Sustainable Forestry Cooperatives offer new
opportunities for small woodlot owners:
Members will own and operate each local cooperative with an elected Board of Directors.
Practical, common-sense,  and successful business information is shared by landowners.
Forest owners become informed and can control of their natural resource management.
Local cooperatives will hire and forestry, ecology, processing, and marketing staff.

No other person makes a commission or percentage off of the forest owner's harvest.
Regular income from timber harvests increases the value of  woodlands to the owners.
Forest to final-form continuity encourages owners  to make long term commitment.
Alliance of SFCs joins local coops for manufacturing, marketing, & information sharing.

Fully integrated value-added processing encourages full utilization of timber harvest.
SFC local processing allows for low-grade harvesting to improve timber stands.
Many local jobs will be created in the woods as well as the workshop.
Direct sales of retail products increases income to SFC ten times the stumpage value.
Net income to owner is approximately doubled by fair treatment and no middlemen.
The timber buyer - forest owner interaction is eliminated, along with all the problems.
Forest owners no longer sell trees or logs - they sell lumber, flooring, millwork etc.

Value-added income covers higher costs of selective harvest - low impact logging.
Small amounts of timber can be harvested at one time allowing sustained yield cuts.
Small woodlots can be grouped together for efficient management and harvest.
Sort-yard operation increases the value of lesser used species and specialty woods.
Veneer logs can be accumulated and marketed direct to veneer companies.

One forester per 5,000 acres and 2-3 loggers  work with owner on long term basis.
Owners encouraged to take part as much as possible in management operations.
Sustainable management maximizes the aesthetic, recreation, and wildlife benefits also.
Value-added income provides funds for habitat restoration and ecological improvements.
Landscape basis management is encouraged on neighboring members properties.
Cooperative work projects share the burden of improvements and make the work fun.

Selling certified products to consumers offers many opportunities to educate the public.
Certified premium is passed directly to forest owner to reward good management.
Chain of Custody is simple, all in one location, and at no extra cost to cooperative.
Value-added processing doubles the owners net income, encouraging management.
Sustainable management increases the forest owner's present net value by 50% more.


For information on starting a Sustainable Forestry Cooperative in your area:

Forestry Cooperative Resource Center          Timbergreen Forestry
Phil Guillery                                                      Jim Birkemeier
2105 First Avenue South                                  S11478 Soeldner Rd
Minneaplis MN  55404                                      Spring Green, WI  53588
(612) 870-3456  (612) 870 4846 fax                  (608) 588-7342  (608) 588-7651 fax

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