Forestry 101
Do You Know Where Your Wood Comes From?
Do you know where your wood and paper products come from and how they were produced? If you are concerned about forest conservation and management this is key.
Protect Forest for Green Space, Habitat, and Sustainable Working Lands
Free Resources for Learning More About Forest Management
WSU Extension Forestry
OSU Extension Forestry
Natural Resource Conservation Service
Washington Dept of Natural Resources
Know Your Forest
FireWise
Have You Been Contacted About Selling Your Timber?
Unfortunately sometimes these companies are predatory and do not give fair value. If you have been contacted by a company about selling your timber get in touch with Washington DNR (Dept of Natural Resources) staff about how to identify fraud and get a fair price. You can also contact us to help you navigate a timber harvest or decide whether harvesting is the right option.
Current Timber Values: DNR Stumpage - These are updated monthly and reflect the latest prices in MBF (thousand board feet). You can compare these prices to what is being offered and follow timber value trends.
"So... What exactly does a forester do?"
Good question.
A forester should have a degree (or equivalent training) in forest management and will help clients achieve their goals on the land - whether that is protecting land for their grandchildren, diagnosing forest health issues, creating wildlife habitat, or harvesting timber. Foresters also deal with permitting, timber taxes, and land use policy. Think of us as planners and general contractors for forest land. We manage forests, write management plans, plan and oversee harvests, work with sawmills, loggers, and a variety of forest industry professionals for our clients. Look for SAF or ACF certifications when hiring.
An arborist is a specialist dealing with individual trees and ornamental non-native trees, like fruit trees or trees you might find on city streets or in a residential yard. They are skilled at taking down dead or dying trees, hazard trees, and pruning. You would typically contact an arborist for a handful of trees or specialty trees. Look for ISA memberships when hiring.
A logger is typically hired individually with the help of a forester (we help you choose a logger and navigate the harvest process) and they do the actual harvesting of trees. Different loggers have different equipment suited to different projects and many are specialized in certain types of harvesting. Some loggers will also do permitting.
Do you know where your wood and paper products come from and how they were produced? If you are concerned about forest conservation and management this is key.
- Buy locally sourced wood! Looking for local wood? Get in touch with us! We try to sell all wood from harvests back into the community directly. We also work with folks milling, making biochar, mulch, and firewood.
- If you can't find that, then buy products that have an FSC logo. Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) is a certification body for sustainably managed forest products. You can find this stamped on lumber or on paper products from printer paper to coffee cups.
- Hire local foresters, loggers, arborists, mills, artisans, and other folks who work in the forest. Hire SAF or ACF foresters, and ISA certified arborists. Also check out WSU Extension's forestry directory.
Protect Forest for Green Space, Habitat, and Sustainable Working Lands
- Own forest land? Put it in designated forest land (minimum 5 acres) or a conservation easement. Or have a succession plan to ensure that the forest continues to remain forest for next generations.
- Don't own land and want to support working lands? Donate, volunteer, or learn about organizations that protect working lands.
- Plant native trees to provide habitat for local wildlife from insects to birds and mammals. (Pojar Mackinnon is a handy guide.)
- Learn about the history of the land you live on and around. Tribal and cultural history, and the biological history. For example: What tribes originally lived here? What is the history of forest management? What natural events (glaciers, fire, etc) shaped the forest around you?
Free Resources for Learning More About Forest Management
WSU Extension Forestry
OSU Extension Forestry
Natural Resource Conservation Service
Washington Dept of Natural Resources
Know Your Forest
FireWise
Have You Been Contacted About Selling Your Timber?
Unfortunately sometimes these companies are predatory and do not give fair value. If you have been contacted by a company about selling your timber get in touch with Washington DNR (Dept of Natural Resources) staff about how to identify fraud and get a fair price. You can also contact us to help you navigate a timber harvest or decide whether harvesting is the right option.
Current Timber Values: DNR Stumpage - These are updated monthly and reflect the latest prices in MBF (thousand board feet). You can compare these prices to what is being offered and follow timber value trends.
"So... What exactly does a forester do?"
Good question.
A forester should have a degree (or equivalent training) in forest management and will help clients achieve their goals on the land - whether that is protecting land for their grandchildren, diagnosing forest health issues, creating wildlife habitat, or harvesting timber. Foresters also deal with permitting, timber taxes, and land use policy. Think of us as planners and general contractors for forest land. We manage forests, write management plans, plan and oversee harvests, work with sawmills, loggers, and a variety of forest industry professionals for our clients. Look for SAF or ACF certifications when hiring.
An arborist is a specialist dealing with individual trees and ornamental non-native trees, like fruit trees or trees you might find on city streets or in a residential yard. They are skilled at taking down dead or dying trees, hazard trees, and pruning. You would typically contact an arborist for a handful of trees or specialty trees. Look for ISA memberships when hiring.
A logger is typically hired individually with the help of a forester (we help you choose a logger and navigate the harvest process) and they do the actual harvesting of trees. Different loggers have different equipment suited to different projects and many are specialized in certain types of harvesting. Some loggers will also do permitting.