Dr. Ingo Grebe,  a third generation forester from  Bad Hersfeld , Germany,  and President of the European Committee of Wood Working Machinery Manufacturers, recently toured the 3,600 acre Marshall Erdman and Associates farm south of Spring Green.  A dozen executives of the Madison based architectural and construction firm asked Grebe for his evaluation of  their farm's crop tree management program.

After touring the area and a variety of  forest stands, Dr. Grebe stated, " What I can see is there is no long term forest management here.  You have just started here on this property.  We have been managing our forests for over two hundred years.  You must do what is best for this forest for the future."

"In Germany, we made a study - what will happen in the next 20-30 years in our country and in Europe.  The #1 conclusion is that wood will become more and more important.
Wood is one of the very few sustainable resources we know.  We must manage our forests for the future.  If we do it - we must do it right."

"One of the few things we have achieved is good forest management," said Grebe proudly.  "Why we are number one in the world with wood machinery technology - because we have a good forest.  Europe has a centuries -old tradition of furniture and carpentry craft businesses - the perfect foundation for the development of a successful woodworking machinery industry.  Our industries live off wood's success as a material.  We consider it to be our obligation and duty, therefore to make the public aware of the unique importance of the forest and wood for nature, the environment, and our industries.  No other material can compete with the forest and wood in terms of sustainability and a whole number of positive characteristics. "

"We must promote the establishment of an adequate and environmentally compatible forestry and timber industry.  Ultimately the forest will only be saved if wood acquires its true value through sound exploitation," Grebe concluded.

"In Germany, it is an overall rule that the forests have to be managed well," he added.  "250 years ago King Frederick decided that the forests must be managed for the future.  You can't just leave a forest alone - there is a forest law in our country.  Everybody who owns a forest must run it by the Government forester or private forester.  Nobody can leave the forest as it is - it has to be cut so - and managed.  If you have an unproductive forest, you must clear it and replant."

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