September 20, 2005
In the beginning
In 1990 a group of foresters, environmental activists, landowners, loggers, natural resource scientists, woodworkers, and forest practitioners gathered in northern California to create a model of ecological forest management. The Institute for Sustainable Forestry (ISF) and The 10 Elements of Sustainability (see sidebar) emerged from this effort to define practices that restore forests, wildlife habitat, and watersheds and provide an economic benefit to forest communities.
In the early '90s timber industry supporters defended the industry as based on a "renewable resource." The media defined the issue as "Jobs vs. the Environment." In 1991 ISF used the 10 Elements to create the first domestic certification program. Amidst rising lumber prices and the potential for a market premium for certified products, ISF programs offered an alternative vision of ecologically sustainable and economically viable forest management.
As the concept of certification gained momentum, ISF's criteria helped to move the Smartwood certification network and Forest Stewardship Council forward. These programs continue to provide market recognition for forest managers practicing sustainable forest management.
The changing context
Since the mid-'90s timber production on private land has remained relatively stable. Yet, over the past 10 years the number of jobs associated with lumber manufacturing has fallen. As global competition intensifies, smaller (less efficient) lumber mills have shut down throughout the Northwest.
We now know that certification is not enough, by itself, to offset the combined economic impact of global competition in the forest products industry, rising forest management costs throughout the Northwest, and rapidly rising California land values.
Reframing the debate
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to large-lot (5- to 160-acre parcels) exurban development. Yet, for those wanting to purchase productive forestland, high land values significantly impact the economic viability of sustainable forest management.
On private forestland already harvested and subdivided, active management is often not economically feasible and not a priority for new landowners. The combination of unmanaged second-growth stands and a history and policy of fire suppression have led to increasing volumes of highly flammable fuels. Exurban development also tends to increase the incidence of fire, the cost of containment, and the threat of fire to human life, wildlife, and property.
It is becoming clear that attempting to manage for conservation values based on sawlog income alone results in increasing pressure for exurban development and forest fragmentation, which both increase fire danger. In this new context sustainable forestry, practiced according to The 10 Elements of Sustainability, needs your awareness and help. Without broad public support for specific programs designed to support both large and small ownerships under sustainable management, sustainable forestry on a landscape scale will remain a vision only.
What you can do:
Check out ISF's New Forestry Trail: Walk the talk--learn how to steward your land. This easily accessible trail at the Southern Humboldt Community Park in Garberville leads through a working example of restoration forestry that provides wildlife habitat, enhances ecosystem functions, reduces erosion, and increases fire safety.
Visit the Southern Humboldt Fire Safe Council website. Learn about the role of fire in ecological forest management and the need for active fuels management in North Coast forests. See *shfsc.org*.
Advocate for policies that provide incentives for sustainable forestry and limit forest fragmentation.
Support opt-in community planning tools that reduce planning costs for sustainable forestry and fire hazard reduction work.
And, when you buy forest products always ask for FSC/Smartwood certified products.
ISF's Ten Elements of Sustainability
one Forest practices will protect, maintain and/or restore the aesthetics, vitality, structure, and functioning of the natural processes, including fire, of the forest ecosystem and its components at all landscape and time scales.
two Forest practices will protect, maintain and/or restore surface and groundwater quality and quantity, including aquatic and riparian habitat.
three Forest practices will protect, maintain and/or restore natural processes of soil fertility, productivity, and stability.
four Forest practices will protect, maintain and/or restore a natural balance and diversity of native species of the area, including flora, fauna, fungi and microbes, for purposes of the long-term health of ecosystems.
five Forest practices will encourage a natural regeneration of native species to protect valuable native gene pools.
six Forest practices will not include the use of artificial chemical fertilizers or synthetic chemical pesticides.
seven Forest practitioners will address the need for local employment and community well-being and will respect workers' rights, including occupational safety, fair compensation, and the right of workers to collectively bargain, and will promote worker owned and
operated organizations.
eight Sites of archaeological, cultural and historical significance will be protected and will receive special consideration.
nine Forest practices executed under a certified Forest Management Plan will be of the appropriate size, scale, time frame, and technology for the parcel, and adopt the appropriate monitoring program, not only in order to avoid negative cumulative impacts, but also to promote beneficial cumulative effects on the forest.
ten Ancient forests will be subject to a moratorium on commercial logging during which time the Institute will participate in research on the ramifications of management in these areas.
More Information About
Institute for Sustainable Forestry
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TOC for Forest & River News, Summer 2005