As we learned about Certification of Sustainable Forestry, we saw that this new standard was really good forestry.  If we could take the Sustainable Management of the Menominee forest, and make that happen on small private ownerships in this area, it would revolutionize the whole business of forestry.

When we originally talked to our forest owners,  explained the costs, and explored the benefits - not one single forest owner could believe this would pay off.  The 10% - 15% projected increase in value for Certified wood is dwarfed by a 13%/year stumpage price rise and the 200% variation in bids for logs from area sawmills.  It appears the costs of the chain of custody  would eat up any real increase in value of Certified wood products.  Individually, few small woodlot owners are likely to benefit from selling certified logs from their forest. 

A Value-Added Cooperative that would sell Certified flooring, millwork, architectural lumber, wood products ......  is a much better proposition for forest owners.  Producing high quality wood products is very easy to do on a small scale.  A group of owners can mill, dry and manufacture retail products, and will learn a lot about forestry in the process.

This forest owner cooperative virtually eliminates the chain of custody.  Certification makes sense and gives a special niche to make marketing even easier.    If any premium is possible for Certified wood, it will go directly back to the forest owner who manages the land.  Higher demand for certified wood will mean lower marketing costs, giving another "certified premium" directly to the forest owner to encourage even better forest management for the future.

At Timbergreen, we have this cooperative idea already working on a small scale.  We are working with the University of Wisconsin - Center for Cooperatives and Cooperative Development Services to build this idea on a large scale.  Sustainable Woods Cooperative has 110 members (July 1998) and is growing quickly.

We believe a SmartWood Certified - Forest Owner's Value Added Cooperative will bring all the pieces of the puzzle together to make Sustainable Forestry on private land a profitable and rewarding business for woodlot owners.  Our plan is available for additional information.

Timbergreen Forestry - SmartWood Certified Resource Managers

Jim Birkemeier - Timbergreen Forestry
S11478 Soeldner Road
Spring Green, WI  53588  (608) 588-7342    tmbrgrn@execpc.com

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