RE-FOREST: Difference between revisions
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North American Sustainable Forestry Business Plan | |||
Background Statement | |||
The North American forest management and wood products sector faces significant challenges. Past forest management practices, fluctuating demand for wood products, poor environmental practices, and the decline in the number of operational mills and rail infrastructure have led to overstocked, high-density forest stands. As a result, the wood products industry struggles to access a reliable supply of high-quality raw materials. These constraints undermine the economic stability and well-being of forest-dependent communities. Additionally, increased stand densities contribute to higher fuel loads and ladder fuels, leading to larger and more intense wildfires, further diminishing timber resources for operational mills. | |||
Forests are vital for environmental sustainability. In their undisturbed state, they self-regulate, maintaining a natural internal equilibrium. However, human activities and historical management approaches often disrupt this natural equilibrium. To optimize forest productivity in both ecological and economic terms, we must reevaluate our interaction with them. This entails rebalancing the competing demands for forest products, recreational use, and carbon dioxide reduction to reestablish long-term overall sustainability. | |||
A continent-wide "forest-to-market" strategy offers a significant opportunity to improve this situation. By integrating harvesting, logistics, processing, and manufacturing, this approach supports the revitalization of local forest economies. Diverse revenue streams generated from comprehensive forest management plans can fund forest and watershed restoration initiatives, as well as support the needs of local forestry services and wood product businesses. The viability of the continent’s remaining mills and new facilities will benefit from effectively combining trucking to local mills with rail movement of excess material to out-of-area mills and buyers. | |||
The North American Sustainable Forestry Business Plan enhances the impact of government agencies and forest-sector businesses by integrating local community perspectives into a unified, continent-wide strategy. Achieving sustainable forest ecosystems and a thriving forest products industry requires a broad, continental perspective. By clearly documenting resource availability, market dynamics, and value chains, stakeholders can design effective strategies tailored to the specific needs of individual forests and their surrounding communities. | |||
The viability of the continent’s remaining mills and new facilities will | Core Questions | ||
Which elements of a continental forest-to-market strategy applied locally and regionally to individual forests provide a long-lasting approach to forest, watershed, and community renewal? | |||
How can collaboration and coordination across political jurisdictions, including national borders, deliver enhanced returns to all parties involved? | |||
What are the Components of These Continental, National, and Local Action Plans? | |||
# Multi-layer GIS mapping of forests, logistics infrastructure, wood products companies, and political jurisdictions | # Multi-layer GIS mapping of forests, logistics infrastructure, wood products companies, and political jurisdictions | ||
# Forest recovery and treatment plans | # Forest recovery and treatment plans | ||
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# Month-by-month expense and revenue plans | # Month-by-month expense and revenue plans | ||
# Sustaining organization and governance designs | # Sustaining organization and governance designs | ||
Phase One: Illuminating the Situation | |||
Core Question: What overarching dynamics in forest management and the wood products industries inform the general improvements needed to establish sustainable forests, vital local communities, and viable wood products companies and industries? | |||
# What are the current conditions of our forests? | |||
# What are the challenges to sustainable forest management? | |||
# What approaches can stakeholders agree on for sustainable forest management? | |||
# | # What are the issues and challenges in the wood products industry? | ||
# | # Who are the stakeholders in forest management? (These questions are answered nationally and then locally.) | ||
# | |||
# | |||
# | |||
## Landowners | ## Landowners | ||
## Watershed associations | ## Watershed associations | ||
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## Scientific and research organizations | ## Scientific and research organizations | ||
## Loggers, mill management, and other forest workers | ## Loggers, mill management, and other forest workers | ||
# | # Who are the stakeholders in forest harvesting and processing? | ||
## Forestry Industry | ## Forestry Industry | ||
### Loggers | ### Loggers | ||
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## Local and state economic development agencies | ## Local and state economic development agencies | ||
## Elected leaders | ## Elected leaders | ||
# | # How many acres of forest are there, and where? | ||
## Private lands | ## Private lands | ||
## State lands | ## State lands | ||
## Federal lands | ## Federal lands | ||
# | # What mills are in operation? | ||
## What value streams does each mill handle? | ## What value streams does each mill handle? | ||
### What wood material does each mill handle? | ### What wood material does each mill handle? | ||
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## Which mill management wants to expand capacity for value streams they already handle? | ## Which mill management wants to expand capacity for value streams they already handle? | ||
## Which mill management wants to expand to handle other value streams? | ## Which mill management wants to expand to handle other value streams? | ||
# | # Which mills have closed in the last ten years? | ||
## What is the physical condition of each closed mill and its potential for repurposing? | ## What is the physical condition of each closed mill and its potential for repurposing? | ||
# | # What is each state’s Forest Action Plan? | ||
## What does it say about the acreage? | ## What does it say about the acreage? | ||
## What does it say about the challenges? | ## What does it say about the challenges? | ||
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## What logistics solutions does the plan lay out? | ## What logistics solutions does the plan lay out? | ||
## What harvesting solutions does the plan specify? | ## What harvesting solutions does the plan specify? | ||
## Is there an | ## Is there an implementation plan for the Forest Action Plan? | ||
## How is the plan commercially informed and commercially relevant? | ## How is the plan commercially informed and commercially relevant? | ||
## What progress has been made since the last Action Plan was completed? | ## What progress has been made since the last Action Plan was completed? | ||
# | # Who wants to participate in these efforts to revive our forested landscapes and wood products companies? | ||
# | # How do forest fires affect long-term and short-term forest management practices? | ||
## How long | ## How long before burned wood must be removed and used as timber? | ||
## How long | ## How long before burned wood must be removed and used as biomass? | ||
## How | ## How can we optimize existing service providers before resorting to outside resources, given the opportunity to boost local forest communities? | ||
## What does the surge in harvesting mean for future supply and | ## What does the short-term surge in harvesting mean for future supply and commercial concerns now? | ||
## How can | ## How can we address our most urgent tasks in a way that also sets us up for success with the next set of priorities? | ||
## Is there a | ## Is there a case for using “mobile” facilities, including new technology-focused ones, that can be moved to other forest regions? | ||
## What are the “Consequences of Delay”? | ## What are the “Consequences of Delay”? | ||
### See Journal of Forestry, April/May 2004, by Dr. John Sessions et al. | ### See Journal of Forestry, April/May 2004, by Dr. John Sessions et al. | ||
## What is the best | ## What is the best ground cover treatment for the long-term vitality of forests in the aftermath of fires? | ||
## | ### How is this integrated into forestry operations? | ||
## What changes in genetic or ecological composition are needed to | ## What is the best approach to control post-fire dense oak regeneration for quicker ecological succession? | ||
## What are the best approaches for stump treatment? | |||
## What is the most appropriate balance between post-fire recovery and future fire mitigation? | |||
## What changes in the genetic or ecological composition of forests are needed to lessen the impact of climate change? | |||
## Given shifting climates, what are the desired future conditions for our landscapes, watersheds, and communities? | ## Given shifting climates, what are the desired future conditions for our landscapes, watersheds, and communities? | ||
# What are the non-timber industry benefits of improved thinning and holistic forest management? | |||
## Reduces future fire risk and improves ecological function | ## Reduces future fire risk and improves ecological function | ||
## Accommodates human access and enables ecological and watershed restoration | ## Accommodates human access and enables ecological and watershed restoration | ||
## Improves balance between juniper and pinon pine | ## Improves species balance for healthier ecosystems, e.g., between juniper and pinon pine | ||
## Stabilizes the soil and restores the landscape | ## Stabilizes the soil and restores the landscape | ||
## Increased downstream stream flow from forest thinning and fire recovery treatment mitigates drought and climate change and improves water access for agricultural producers | ## Increased downstream stream flow from forest thinning and fire recovery treatment mitigates drought and climate change, and improves water access for agricultural producers | ||
## Improves wildlife habitat and diversity | ## Improves wildlife habitat and diversity | ||
## Facilitates grazing and other traditional lifeways | ## Facilitates grazing and other traditional lifeways | ||
## Advances livelihoods consistent with local and Indigenous values | ## Advances livelihoods consistent with local and Indigenous values | ||
# | # What community factors should be identified and weighed in forest management planning and decision-making? | ||
## What demographic and economic dynamics of nearby communities should inform the project, e.g., population demographics, primary industries, unemployment, and economic conditions? | ## What demographic and economic dynamics of nearby communities should inform the project, e.g., population demographics, primary industries, unemployment, and economic conditions? | ||
## What other related industries in the region should be considered in tandem with the forest products logistics strategy, e.g., mines, mills, oil, gas, renewables, agriculture, and manufacturing? | ## What other related industries in the region should be considered in tandem with the forest products logistics strategy, e.g., mines, mills, oil, gas, renewables, agriculture, and manufacturing? | ||
## What are the economic development goals of the local communities? | ## What are the economic development goals of the local communities? | ||
## Which communities and residents should be included in evaluating and siting new facilities and infrastructure? | ## Which communities and residents should be included in evaluating and siting new facilities and infrastructure? | ||
# | # What are the economic impacts of the forest products industry? | ||
## What are the employment implications? | ## What are the employment implications? | ||
### How many people are employed? | ### How many people are employed? | ||
### How many people are unemployed? | ### How many people are unemployed? | ||
### What is the unemployment cost burden on the state? | |||
### How much do employees earn in each forest product-related industry? | ### How much do employees earn in each forest product-related industry? | ||
### Where in the county or state are these people employed? | ### Where in the county or state are these people employed? | ||
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### What is the gross revenue? | ### What is the gross revenue? | ||
### What are the tax revenues? | ### What are the tax revenues? | ||
### What other industries are | ### What other industries depend on or are related to the wood/forest industries? | ||
### How can downstream industries like furniture manufacturing, wood pellets, paper, cardboard, and general milling help keep jobs in the US? | ### How can downstream industries like furniture manufacturing, wood pellets, paper, cardboard, and general milling help keep jobs in the US? | ||
### How will this spur the trucking, rail, and shipping industries? | ### How will this spur the trucking, rail, and shipping industries? | ||
### How would growth in these industries improve our national balance of payments? | ### How would growth in these industries improve our national balance of payments? | ||
### What are the environmental concerns and sustainability trends that will impact the industry? | ### What are the environmental concerns and sustainability trends that will impact the industry? | ||
### How are tree planting subsidies impacting | ### How are tree planting subsidies impacting forestry? | ||
### How do technological changes impact the | ### How do technological changes impact the availability and price of wood and wood products? | ||
### How could the diversification of products in subsectors, such as paper mills, offset declines in traditional markets? | ### How could the diversification of products in subsectors, such as paper mills, offset declines in traditional markets? | ||
## What is the current economic impact of the industry? | ## What is the current economic impact of the industry? | ||
### How big is the industry? | ### How big is the industry? | ||
### | ### What amount of GDP does it comprise? | ||
### How many people are directly | ### How many people are directly and indirectly employed? | ||
### How has the industry performed over the last year, five years, and ten years? | ### How has the industry performed over the last year, five years, and ten years? | ||
### Which subsectors have grown, and which ones have declined? | ### Which subsectors have grown, and which ones have declined? | ||
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## What are the regional impacts? | ## What are the regional impacts? | ||
### In which states and counties is the wood industry in the top 10 manufacturing employment? | ### In which states and counties is the wood industry in the top 10 manufacturing employment? | ||
### How many employees and | ### How many employees are there by earnings and occupation in each wood-related industry by state and county? | ||
### How do we determine if there’s sufficient employment talent in the regions for growth? | ### How do we determine if there’s sufficient employment talent in the regions for growth? | ||
### How do the state and county average wage levels vary by region? | ### How do the state and county average wage levels vary by region? | ||
### How much has employment by sector changed over the past five years by state and county? | ### How much has employment by sector changed over the past five years by state and county? | ||
# | # What are the economic implications of the non-harvesting forest activities? | ||
## Tourism | ## Tourism | ||
### Camping and hiking | ### Camping and hiking | ||
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## Hunting | ## Hunting | ||
## Agriculture | ## Agriculture | ||
Phase Two: Determining the Local and Regional Material Supply | |||
Core Questions: What usable raw materials for specific wood product value chains will a comprehensive and sustainable forest treatment approach generate in each distinct forest? | |||
What specific harvesting methods, transportation logistics, and necessary infrastructure (e.g., roads, processing sites) will be essential for harvesting and moving these quantities of forest material? | |||
# What GIS map layers are needed to inform this opportunity? | |||
# | |||
## All forests | ## All forests | ||
## Each forest harvesting volume by tree type and size, and ancillary material type and volume | ## Each forest harvesting volume by tree type and size, and ancillary material type and volume | ||
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## Roads, highways, rail sidings, lines, and yards | ## Roads, highways, rail sidings, lines, and yards | ||
### Operating or potential for reactivation | ### Operating or potential for reactivation | ||
## Container terminals | ## Container terminals, ports, and their wood products capabilities | ||
## Export fumigation facilities | ## Export fumigation facilities | ||
## Transportation service providers | ## Transportation service providers | ||
# | # What are the value streams to evaluate? | ||
## Cants | ## Cants | ||
## Lumber | ## Lumber | ||
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## Carbon credits | ## Carbon credits | ||
## Federal and state funding | ## Federal and state funding | ||
# | # What are the planned forest treatments and the projected volumes of wood or biomass they will yield? | ||
# What is the current status of the state’s stand-based inventory? | |||
## What entity owns and manages each forest stand, i.e., federal, state, county, tribal, or private? | ## What entity owns and manages each forest stand, i.e., federal, state, county, tribal, or private? | ||
## What types of trees and sizes, including species, age, health, stand structure, and photosynthetic activity? | ## What types of trees and sizes, including species, age, health, stand structure, and photosynthetic activity? | ||
## What are the slopes and aspects (direction)? | ## What are the slopes and aspects (direction)? | ||
## What percentage of the forest is burned | ## What percentage of the forest is burned over? | ||
## What is the stand's current condition | ### What percentage is at risk?? | ||
## What is the stand's current condition? | |||
### What is the anticipated condition/deterioration in the interim until harvesting activity can be ramped up? | |||
## What cultural, ecological, and hydrological values need to be addressed? | ## What cultural, ecological, and hydrological values need to be addressed? | ||
## What is the current forest management plan for the entire forest, and is it current? | ## What is the current forest management plan for the entire forest, and is it current? | ||
## What is the current forest management plan for the stand, and is it up to date? | ## What is the current forest management plan for the stand, and is it up to date? | ||
## What activity is going on in each forest? What species are harvested? Who is currently harvesting each forest? How does each entity type approach its forestry management activities? | ## What activity is going on in each forest? | ||
### What species are harvested? | |||
### Who is currently harvesting each forest? | |||
### How does each entity type approach its forestry management activities? | |||
## Which stands are not being managed to meet the forest restoration goals, particularly overstocking? | ## Which stands are not being managed to meet the forest restoration goals, particularly overstocking? | ||
## | ## What is the current forest composition compared to the historic baseline condition? | ||
## What was the historic range of variation | ## What was the historic range of variation? | ||
## What is the | ### How do we move closer to those conditions? | ||
## What are the species, tree sizes, log volumes, and logging residues to be removed based on the | ## What is the prescription for this stand? | ||
## What quantity and type of byproducts (e.g., forest slash) are generated at each forest? Are they shipped | ### What are the species, tree sizes, log volumes, and logging residues to be removed based on the prescription? | ||
## What quantity and type of waste products are generated at each forest | ## What quantity and type of byproducts (e.g., forest slash) are generated at each forest? | ||
### Are they shipped? | |||
### Where and how? | |||
## What quantity and type of waste products are generated at each forest? | |||
### How and where are they disposed of? | |||
## What are the most significant unmet opportunities? | ## What are the most significant unmet opportunities? | ||
## What material and volumes from each stand need new market solutions? | ## What material and volumes from each stand need new market solutions? | ||
## Which entities are best positioned to conduct the harvesting activities in each forest? | ## Which entities are best positioned to conduct the harvesting activities in each forest? | ||
# | # What is the total feedstock volume at the regional level? | ||
## How | ## How do the individual forest stands collectively contribute to the overall regional volume of available raw materials? | ||
# | # How do in-forest logistics assets impact accessibility for harvesting? | ||
## What are the roads in each forest stand | ## What are the roads in each forest stand? | ||
### What entity owns and maintains those roads? | |||
## What are the legal guidelines for road use, construction, and maintenance? | ## What are the legal guidelines for road use, construction, and maintenance? | ||
## What are these roads’ conditions, how has fire damaged them, and how are they vulnerable? | ## What are these roads’ conditions, how has fire damaged them, and how are they vulnerable? | ||
## What work is needed on which roads for accessibility to treat forests? | ## What work is needed on which roads for accessibility to treat forests? | ||
## What are the seasonal characteristics of these roads? | ## What are the seasonal characteristics of these roads? | ||
## What are the characteristics of the critical infrastructure elements in the forest? What do we have? What’s missing? | ## What are the characteristics of the critical infrastructure elements in the forest? | ||
### What do we have? | |||
### What’s missing? | |||
## Where are new roads and cleared land needed to render forest material removal viable? | ## Where are new roads and cleared land needed to render forest material removal viable? | ||
## Given the characteristics and regulations of the in-forest logistics, what percentage of the forest stands are physically accessible? | ## Given the characteristics and regulations of the in-forest logistics, what percentage of the forest stands are physically accessible? | ||
## Which entities are best positioned to conduct the transportation activities from each forest? | ## Which entities are best positioned to conduct the transportation activities from each forest? | ||
# | # What regional infrastructure supports forest materials’ logistics? | ||
## What is the region’s publicly accessible road network? | ## What is the region’s publicly accessible road network? | ||
## What is the general condition of forest road access? | ## What is the general condition of forest road access? | ||
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## Where can new rail loading facilities enhance forestry operations and minimize transportation costs and impacts? | ## Where can new rail loading facilities enhance forestry operations and minimize transportation costs and impacts? | ||
## Are these new developments commercially viable, or do they need public subsidization? | ## Are these new developments commercially viable, or do they need public subsidization? | ||
# | # What existing and new capacity is needed for short- and long-term harvesting? | ||
## Which entities are best positioned to conduct harvesting activities in each forest? | ## Which entities are best positioned to conduct harvesting activities in each forest? | ||
## What new resources or support does each entity need? | ## What new resources or support does each entity need? | ||
# | # What are the performance characteristics and costs of available equipment types for harvesting, in-forest logistics, and regional transportation? | ||
## What are the harvesting equipment choices? | ## What are the harvesting equipment choices? | ||
## What are the transportation equipment choices? | ## What are the transportation equipment choices? | ||
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### What is the status of diesel-alternative energy technology for each vehicle type? | ### What is the status of diesel-alternative energy technology for each vehicle type? | ||
## What new collaborative pooling of harvesting and transportation equipment improves the financial viability of scaled-up harvesting and logistics? | ## What new collaborative pooling of harvesting and transportation equipment improves the financial viability of scaled-up harvesting and logistics? | ||
Phase Three: Conceiving the Forest-to-Market System for Logistics and Processing of Forest Materials | |||
Core Questions: Which innovations, logistics, and business systems are needed to significantly increase the local processing of forest materials and efficiently transport large volumes to out-of-area facilities when necessary? | |||
How can these new initiatives align with current forestry and economic development efforts? | |||
# How can existing and potential new local processing facilities, including mills, be optimized? | |||
# | ## Where are the in-area timber processing facilities for lumber, pellets, paper, paperboard, energy, biomass? | ||
## Where are the in-area timber processing facilities for lumber, pellets, paper, paperboard, energy, | |||
## What are the significant barriers to and opportunities for developing supply chains related to conventional forestry products for firewood, posts, flooring, timber, vigas, etc.? | ## What are the significant barriers to and opportunities for developing supply chains related to conventional forestry products for firewood, posts, flooring, timber, vigas, etc.? | ||
## What does each existing facility need to reach its capacity | ## What does each existing facility need to reach its optimum capacity goals? | ||
## How do existing mills fit into a regional strategy? | ## How do existing mills fit into a regional strategy? | ||
## How do we coordinate processing capacity for optimal benefits? | ## How do we coordinate processing capacity among existing mills for optimal benefits? | ||
## What is the | ## What is the ideal size and strategic location for new facilities that process conventional forest products? | ||
### | ### How do weather patterns and conditions affect the choice of location? | ||
### What | ### What impact do elevation and terrain (slope direction) have on the selection of a site? | ||
### | ### How does the existing road network influence the choice of location? | ||
## Which other value streams can be nurtured to encompass a complete forest treatment-to-market approach, including new uses of biomass for energy and construction materials? | ## Which other value streams can be nurtured to encompass a complete forest treatment-to-market approach, including new uses of biomass for energy and construction materials? | ||
### What are the significant barriers and opportunities associated with developing supply chains related to biomass energy, biochar, building materials, carbon markets, electricity, and other nontraditional uses of forest products? | ### What are the significant barriers and opportunities associated with developing supply chains related to biomass energy, biochar, building materials, carbon markets, electricity, and other nontraditional uses of forest products? | ||
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## What inbound freight exists for forestry and connected and parallel industries, such as papermaking, chemicals, and animal feed? | ## What inbound freight exists for forestry and connected and parallel industries, such as papermaking, chemicals, and animal feed? | ||
## Which new associated product manufacturing facilities can be made viable by this coordinated forestry planning? | ## Which new associated product manufacturing facilities can be made viable by this coordinated forestry planning? | ||
## | ## What new investments in existing or emerging technologies can be implemented in the region in the short and long term? | ||
## Where should new processing facilities with the latest technologies and products be optimally located? | ## Where should new processing facilities with the latest technologies and products be optimally located? | ||
# | # Which forest materials need additional out-of-area processing capacity? | ||
## Where are the nearest out-of-area wood processing facilities? | ## Where are the nearest out-of-area wood processing facilities? | ||
## Which facilities have supply needs or growth potential? | ## Which facilities have supply needs or growth potential? | ||
# | # What new logistics solutions and capital are needed for this long-distance transportation? | ||
## Which logistics services enable viable transportation of each forest’s harvested materials to the optimal destination? | ## Which logistics services enable the viable transportation of each forest’s harvested materials to the optimal destination? | ||
## What new infrastructure elements are needed for each transportation solution? | ## What new infrastructure elements are needed for each transportation solution? | ||
## What truck types and numbers are needed for local transportation? | ## What truck types and numbers are needed for local transportation? | ||
## What | ## What railcar types and fleet management strategies are needed for in-state and out-of-state transportation? | ||
## Which transportation providers, including rail, trucking, port, and transload operators, can be engaged to | ## Which transportation providers, including rail, trucking, port, and transload operators, can be engaged to evaluate the commercial feasibility of collecting and delivering forest products to domestic and international markets? | ||
# | # What financial elements of this forest-to-market solution are needed to support an economically viable, culturally informed, and environmentally sound approach for everyone involved? | ||
## What are the needs and opportunities for investors in this North American Sustainable Forestry Business Plan? | ## What are the needs and opportunities for investors in this North American Sustainable Forestry Business Plan? | ||
## Who are the investors that want to make these investments? | ## Who are the investors that want to make these investments? | ||
# | # What governance and commercial innovations are needed to sustain this collaboration? | ||
## How do we best integrate local and Indigenous values into our process? | ## How do we best integrate local and Indigenous values into our process? | ||
## What laws and protocols must be addressed to accommodate this coordination among Canada, the United States, and Mexico? | ## What laws and protocols must be addressed to accommodate this coordination among Canada, the United States, and Mexico? | ||
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## How do we fund whole communities, not just individuals, businesses, homes, and landowners? | ## How do we fund whole communities, not just individuals, businesses, homes, and landowners? | ||
## What financial and logistical support should be funded by the federal governments of Mexico, the United States, and Canada? | ## What financial and logistical support should be funded by the federal governments of Mexico, the United States, and Canada? | ||
## Which public-private partnerships can best complete, support, and implement the | ## Which public-private partnerships can best complete, support, and implement the Business Plan? | ||
## What do agencies need to enable them to share or devolve power or authority to non-governmental or collaborative entities? | ## What do agencies need to enable them to share or devolve power or authority to non-governmental or collaborative entities? | ||
## What are the state, provincial, and federal major fiduciary and statutory requirements? | ## What are the state, provincial, and federal entities' major fiduciary and statutory requirements? | ||
## What governance arrangements are needed to meet these state and federal requirements? | ## What governance arrangements are needed to meet these state and federal requirements? | ||
## How do we address inurement prohibitions in organizational structures? | ## How do we address inurement prohibitions in organizational structures? | ||
# | # How do we interface with, support, and augment existing land, water, and forest conservation efforts? | ||
## How do we | ## How do we leverage legacy and current collaborative landscape-scale forestry management activities? | ||
## Specifically, which programs do we build on, and which local and national initiatives do we emulate? | ## Specifically, which programs do we build on, and which local and national initiatives do we emulate? | ||
## What pitfalls should be | ## What pitfalls should be avoided - what has and has not worked? | ||
## How are private lands best integrated into state and federal planning efforts? | |||
## How are private lands best integrated into | ## How can progress on private lands assist the overall forest management and stewardship goals? | ||
## How can progress on private lands | ## How can the USFS and state forestry departments assist in the stewardship of private lands? | ||
## How can | # How can we better integrate public and private land stewardship? | ||
## How can collaboration succeed in the region? | |||
## What barriers to progress in forests and the forest industry must be addressed? | |||
## How do we ensure industry involvement is consistent with landscape conservation and community development goals? | ## How do we ensure industry involvement is consistent with landscape conservation and community development goals? | ||
## What assessments of existing industry | ## What assessments of existing industry barriers and needs have already been completed? And when were they completed? | ||
## Are local forestry-related businesses changing their business models due to recent fires? | ## Are local forestry-related businesses changing their business models due to recent fires? | ||
## What assistance do businesses need toward contracting with the State, Fed, or private customers? | ## What assistance do businesses need toward contracting with the State, Fed, or private customers? | ||
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## How can state forestry departments and the national forestry agency (e.g., U.S. Forest Service) improve their collaboration toward shared goals? | ## How can state forestry departments and the national forestry agency (e.g., U.S. Forest Service) improve their collaboration toward shared goals? | ||
## Are the new U.S. Forest Plans completed in 2022 the best framing, or should we follow other legal guidelines? In essence, how do we best integrate with the existing frameworks? | ## Are the new U.S. Forest Plans completed in 2022 the best framing, or should we follow other legal guidelines? In essence, how do we best integrate with the existing frameworks? | ||
## How does the | ## How does the RE-FOREST collaborate with other large landscape and community forest conservation efforts? | ||
## How do we define the regional boundaries, and with whom must we align or partner in each region? | ## How do we define the regional boundaries, and with whom must we align or partner in each region? | ||
Throughout: Informing the Conception with Local Knowledge | |||
Core Question: What questions do we ask each stakeholder group, and what have they contributed to the collective thinking so far? | |||
## Local and Indigenous peoples | ## Local and Indigenous peoples | ||
### How does forest and watershed renewal align with your values and lifeways? | ### How does forest and watershed renewal align with your values and lifeways? | ||
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#### Bonding and legitimacy of payroll protocols render many small contractors ineligible for government funding. | #### Bonding and legitimacy of payroll protocols render many small contractors ineligible for government funding. | ||
### What challenges in identifying markets for materials need to be addressed? | ### What challenges in identifying markets for materials need to be addressed? | ||
### For which forest materials | ### For which forest materials has it proven easier to find contractors? | ||
### What issues with contractors need to be addressed? | ### What issues with contractors need to be addressed? | ||
### What issues with processors need to be addressed? | ### What issues with processors need to be addressed? | ||
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### What is needed to restore the fences? | ### What is needed to restore the fences? | ||
### What is needed to restore the water system? | ### What is needed to restore the water system? | ||
# | # What are the trespass issues that need to be addressed? | ||
## ATVs | ## ATVs | ||
## Poaching for game | ## Poaching for game | ||
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## Partying | ## Partying | ||
## Vandalism | ## Vandalism | ||
# | # Questions for individual landowners | ||
## Is the high density of burned or unburned trees a severe challenge on your lands? | ## Is the high density of burned or unburned trees a severe challenge on your lands? | ||
## What concerns about how adjacent forests to your lands are being managed? | ## What concerns about how adjacent forests to your lands are being managed? | ||
| Line 432: | Line 414: | ||
### I promise to respond to the OTNA emails or phone messages within 48 hours or sooner when time is crucial. | ### I promise to respond to the OTNA emails or phone messages within 48 hours or sooner when time is crucial. | ||
### I promise to invest up to 1-2 hours a week in reading and writing when asked so that my input effectively contributes to this effort. | ### I promise to invest up to 1-2 hours a week in reading and writing when asked so that my input effectively contributes to this effort. | ||
# | # What else needs to be investigated? | ||
## What is the condition and use of area wood-fired boiler systems? | ## What is the condition and use of area wood-fired boiler systems? | ||
# | # State and federal forestry staff | ||
## Administrative | ## Administrative | ||
### How does the U.S. Forest Service Planning Rule 2012 inform the local work? | ### How does the U.S. Forest Service Planning Rule 2012 inform the local work? | ||
| Line 454: | Line 436: | ||
### What assessments of existing industry barriers and needs have been completed, and when? | ### What assessments of existing industry barriers and needs have been completed, and when? | ||
### What other large landscape and ecosystem planning efforts are underway? | ### What other large landscape and ecosystem planning efforts are underway? | ||
### How do you suggest | ### How do you suggest RE-FOREST collaborate with these other forest conservation efforts? | ||
# | # Private Land Coordination | ||
## How are private lands best integrated into these state and federal planning efforts? | ## How are private lands best integrated into these state and federal planning efforts? | ||
## How can progress on private lands assist the overall forest management and stewardship goals? | ## How can progress on private lands assist the overall forest management and stewardship goals? | ||
## How can the USFS and State Forestry Divisions assist in the stewardship of private lands? | ## How can the USFS and State Forestry Divisions assist in the stewardship of private lands? | ||
## How can we better synthesize public and private land stewardship? | ## How can we better synthesize public and private land stewardship? | ||
# | # Forestry and forest products business leaders | ||
## How can we improve how federal agencies handle forest material? | ## How can we improve how federal agencies handle forest material? | ||
### Bid before harvesting so it can be cut to suitable lengths | ### Bid before harvesting so it can be cut to suitable lengths | ||
| Line 480: | Line 462: | ||
## How can we improve communications and understanding with the environmental community? | ## How can we improve communications and understanding with the environmental community? | ||
### Recognize loggers as environmentalists. | ### Recognize loggers as environmentalists. | ||
## How can we improve how landowners relate to forest treatment | ## How can we improve how landowners relate to forest treatment, local logging, and mill management? | ||
### Need to address small landowners’ burned trees near their homes | ### Need to address small landowners’ burned trees near their homes | ||
### Communication and Education | ### Communication and Education | ||
| Line 490: | Line 472: | ||
### What shortcomings do you find in how banks relate to you? | ### What shortcomings do you find in how banks relate to you? | ||
## There are no local banks that offer standard equipment financing | ## There are no local banks that offer standard equipment financing | ||
### Need new low-interest/reasonable-interest equipment loan fund | ### Need a new low-interest/reasonable-interest equipment loan fund | ||
### Banks don’t understand the non-equipment capital needs | ### Banks don’t understand the non-equipment capital needs | ||
### Need a new source of collateral and guarantee | ### Need a new source of collateral and guarantee | ||
| Line 506: | Line 488: | ||
## How can we address the need for additional employee housing in emergencies? | ## How can we address the need for additional employee housing in emergencies? | ||
## How can state and federal financial and logistical support better serve your needs? | ## How can state and federal financial and logistical support better serve your needs? | ||
# | # Local public sector and community leaders | ||
## How have the recent fires impacted your community and your work? | ## How have the recent fires impacted your community and your work? | ||
## What goals would your community want to see advanced from this forestry action plan? | ## What goals would your community want to see advanced from this forestry action plan? | ||
| Line 517: | Line 499: | ||
### More effective and relevant state and federal support | ### More effective and relevant state and federal support | ||
## What adjustments to your current role or mission would enable you to focus more on long-term collective benefit? | ## What adjustments to your current role or mission would enable you to focus more on long-term collective benefit? | ||
# | # Environmental groups | ||
## How do you define and conceive forest and watershed health? | ## How do you define and conceive forest and watershed health? | ||
## How does forest and watershed health impact your work and programmatic mission? | ## How does forest and watershed health impact your work and programmatic mission? | ||
| Line 525: | Line 507: | ||
## What concerns for the vitality of the environment, watersheds, and wildlife do you want to have a role in addressing within this forest-to-market strategy? | ## What concerns for the vitality of the environment, watersheds, and wildlife do you want to have a role in addressing within this forest-to-market strategy? | ||
## How can your organization support a positive view of forest workers as environmental stewards? | ## How can your organization support a positive view of forest workers as environmental stewards? | ||
# | # Foundations and philanthropists | ||
## What forest and watershed issues are the most significant challenges? | ## What forest and watershed issues are the most significant challenges? | ||
## How have the recent fires impacted your actions and role? | ## How have the recent fires impacted your actions and role? | ||
## What needs are not | ## What needs are not addressed under the current system? | ||
## What would help you make your work more effective? | ## What would help you make your work more effective? | ||
## What resources can you provide to this Initiative, and what questions and guidance do you have toward applying those resources? | ## What resources can you provide to this Initiative, and what questions and guidance do you have toward applying those resources? | ||
# | # New technology developers | ||
## What technology could be productively included in this initiative? | ## What technology could be productively included in this initiative? | ||
## What is the current status of your technology and its deployment? | ## What is the current status of your technology and its deployment? | ||
## What capital or support is needed to advance your technology? | ## What capital or support is needed to advance your technology? | ||
# | # Foundational questions for all stakeholders | ||
## What resources do you have in your control that may be helpful to this Initiative? | ## What resources do you have in your control that may be helpful to this Initiative? | ||
## What resources do you know outside your control that you want to ensure we are aware of? | ## What resources do you know outside your control that you want to ensure we are aware of? | ||
| Line 542: | Line 524: | ||
## How do you want to participate in this Initiative? | ## How do you want to participate in this Initiative? | ||
## Based on your understanding of this initiative, do you want the state and federal governments to embrace and support the project? | ## Based on your understanding of this initiative, do you want the state and federal governments to embrace and support the project? | ||
Revision as of 20:49, 26 August 2025
North American Sustainable Forestry Business Plan Background Statement The North American forest management and wood products sector faces significant challenges. Past forest management practices, fluctuating demand for wood products, poor environmental practices, and the decline in the number of operational mills and rail infrastructure have led to overstocked, high-density forest stands. As a result, the wood products industry struggles to access a reliable supply of high-quality raw materials. These constraints undermine the economic stability and well-being of forest-dependent communities. Additionally, increased stand densities contribute to higher fuel loads and ladder fuels, leading to larger and more intense wildfires, further diminishing timber resources for operational mills. Forests are vital for environmental sustainability. In their undisturbed state, they self-regulate, maintaining a natural internal equilibrium. However, human activities and historical management approaches often disrupt this natural equilibrium. To optimize forest productivity in both ecological and economic terms, we must reevaluate our interaction with them. This entails rebalancing the competing demands for forest products, recreational use, and carbon dioxide reduction to reestablish long-term overall sustainability. A continent-wide "forest-to-market" strategy offers a significant opportunity to improve this situation. By integrating harvesting, logistics, processing, and manufacturing, this approach supports the revitalization of local forest economies. Diverse revenue streams generated from comprehensive forest management plans can fund forest and watershed restoration initiatives, as well as support the needs of local forestry services and wood product businesses. The viability of the continent’s remaining mills and new facilities will benefit from effectively combining trucking to local mills with rail movement of excess material to out-of-area mills and buyers. The North American Sustainable Forestry Business Plan enhances the impact of government agencies and forest-sector businesses by integrating local community perspectives into a unified, continent-wide strategy. Achieving sustainable forest ecosystems and a thriving forest products industry requires a broad, continental perspective. By clearly documenting resource availability, market dynamics, and value chains, stakeholders can design effective strategies tailored to the specific needs of individual forests and their surrounding communities. Core Questions Which elements of a continental forest-to-market strategy applied locally and regionally to individual forests provide a long-lasting approach to forest, watershed, and community renewal? How can collaboration and coordination across political jurisdictions, including national borders, deliver enhanced returns to all parties involved? What are the Components of These Continental, National, and Local Action Plans?
- Multi-layer GIS mapping of forests, logistics infrastructure, wood products companies, and political jurisdictions
- Forest recovery and treatment plans
- Optimal harvesting-to-processing plan for multiple value streams
- Stakeholder roles and participation plans (who is doing what)
- Transportation and logistics plans
- Equipment plans
- Month-by-month expense and revenue plans
- Sustaining organization and governance designs
Phase One: Illuminating the Situation Core Question: What overarching dynamics in forest management and the wood products industries inform the general improvements needed to establish sustainable forests, vital local communities, and viable wood products companies and industries?
- What are the current conditions of our forests?
- What are the challenges to sustainable forest management?
- What approaches can stakeholders agree on for sustainable forest management?
- What are the issues and challenges in the wood products industry?
- Who are the stakeholders in forest management? (These questions are answered nationally and then locally.)
- Landowners
- Watershed associations
- Local and Indigenous Peoples
- Individual citizens
- Land Grants
- Public agencies
- Landscape conservation collaboratives
- Environmental entities
- Elected leaders
- Consultants/experts
- Foundations
- Investors/lenders
- Scientific and research organizations
- Loggers, mill management, and other forest workers
- Who are the stakeholders in forest harvesting and processing?
- Forestry Industry
- Loggers
- Mills/processors
- Other forest workers
- Trucking and transportation companies
- Local and state economic development agencies
- Elected leaders
- Forestry Industry
- How many acres of forest are there, and where?
- Private lands
- State lands
- Federal lands
- What mills are in operation?
- What value streams does each mill handle?
- What wood material does each mill handle?
- What wood products does each mill produce?
- Which mills are short on supply to satisfy their current capacity?
- Which mill management wants to expand capacity for value streams they already handle?
- Which mill management wants to expand to handle other value streams?
- What value streams does each mill handle?
- Which mills have closed in the last ten years?
- What is the physical condition of each closed mill and its potential for repurposing?
- What is each state’s Forest Action Plan?
- What does it say about the acreage?
- What does it say about the challenges?
- What solutions does it recommend?
- What logistics solutions does the plan lay out?
- What harvesting solutions does the plan specify?
- Is there an implementation plan for the Forest Action Plan?
- How is the plan commercially informed and commercially relevant?
- What progress has been made since the last Action Plan was completed?
- Who wants to participate in these efforts to revive our forested landscapes and wood products companies?
- How do forest fires affect long-term and short-term forest management practices?
- How long before burned wood must be removed and used as timber?
- How long before burned wood must be removed and used as biomass?
- How can we optimize existing service providers before resorting to outside resources, given the opportunity to boost local forest communities?
- What does the short-term surge in harvesting mean for future supply and commercial concerns now?
- How can we address our most urgent tasks in a way that also sets us up for success with the next set of priorities?
- Is there a case for using “mobile” facilities, including new technology-focused ones, that can be moved to other forest regions?
- What are the “Consequences of Delay”?
- See Journal of Forestry, April/May 2004, by Dr. John Sessions et al.
- What is the best ground cover treatment for the long-term vitality of forests in the aftermath of fires?
- How is this integrated into forestry operations?
- What is the best approach to control post-fire dense oak regeneration for quicker ecological succession?
- What are the best approaches for stump treatment?
- What is the most appropriate balance between post-fire recovery and future fire mitigation?
- What changes in the genetic or ecological composition of forests are needed to lessen the impact of climate change?
- Given shifting climates, what are the desired future conditions for our landscapes, watersheds, and communities?
- What are the non-timber industry benefits of improved thinning and holistic forest management?
- Reduces future fire risk and improves ecological function
- Accommodates human access and enables ecological and watershed restoration
- Improves species balance for healthier ecosystems, e.g., between juniper and pinon pine
- Stabilizes the soil and restores the landscape
- Increased downstream stream flow from forest thinning and fire recovery treatment mitigates drought and climate change, and improves water access for agricultural producers
- Improves wildlife habitat and diversity
- Facilitates grazing and other traditional lifeways
- Advances livelihoods consistent with local and Indigenous values
- What community factors should be identified and weighed in forest management planning and decision-making?
- What demographic and economic dynamics of nearby communities should inform the project, e.g., population demographics, primary industries, unemployment, and economic conditions?
- What other related industries in the region should be considered in tandem with the forest products logistics strategy, e.g., mines, mills, oil, gas, renewables, agriculture, and manufacturing?
- What are the economic development goals of the local communities?
- Which communities and residents should be included in evaluating and siting new facilities and infrastructure?
- What are the economic impacts of the forest products industry?
- What are the employment implications?
- How many people are employed?
- How many people are unemployed?
- What is the unemployment cost burden on the state?
- How much do employees earn in each forest product-related industry?
- Where in the county or state are these people employed?
- Which areas have the talent/skills for expansion, and which areas need to import new sources of labor?
- If employment talent is lacking, how will it affect the cost of this labor pool?
- How much impact would it have on state average wage levels?
- What is the seasonal impact of these jobs?
- What are the public benefits?
- What is the gross revenue?
- What are the tax revenues?
- What other industries depend on or are related to the wood/forest industries?
- How can downstream industries like furniture manufacturing, wood pellets, paper, cardboard, and general milling help keep jobs in the US?
- How will this spur the trucking, rail, and shipping industries?
- How would growth in these industries improve our national balance of payments?
- What are the environmental concerns and sustainability trends that will impact the industry?
- How are tree planting subsidies impacting forestry?
- How do technological changes impact the availability and price of wood and wood products?
- How could the diversification of products in subsectors, such as paper mills, offset declines in traditional markets?
- What is the current economic impact of the industry?
- How big is the industry?
- What amount of GDP does it comprise?
- How many people are directly and indirectly employed?
- How has the industry performed over the last year, five years, and ten years?
- Which subsectors have grown, and which ones have declined?
- How do the questions above vary by state and county?
- How much is the industry forecast to change?
- How will the housing construction sector in 2025 impact the lumber industry?
- How are the interest and mortgage rates going to impact lumber demand?
- What are the regional impacts?
- In which states and counties is the wood industry in the top 10 manufacturing employment?
- How many employees are there by earnings and occupation in each wood-related industry by state and county?
- How do we determine if there’s sufficient employment talent in the regions for growth?
- How do the state and county average wage levels vary by region?
- How much has employment by sector changed over the past five years by state and county?
- What are the employment implications?
- What are the economic implications of the non-harvesting forest activities?
- Tourism
- Camping and hiking
- Skiing
- Hunting
- Agriculture
- Tourism
Phase Two: Determining the Local and Regional Material Supply Core Questions: What usable raw materials for specific wood product value chains will a comprehensive and sustainable forest treatment approach generate in each distinct forest? What specific harvesting methods, transportation logistics, and necessary infrastructure (e.g., roads, processing sites) will be essential for harvesting and moving these quantities of forest material?
- What GIS map layers are needed to inform this opportunity?
- All forests
- Each forest harvesting volume by tree type and size, and ancillary material type and volume
- Local logging companies
- Timber product sorting facilities
- Wood product processors and mills
- Wood products manufacturers
- Roads, highways, rail sidings, lines, and yards
- Operating or potential for reactivation
- Container terminals, ports, and their wood products capabilities
- Export fumigation facilities
- Transportation service providers
- What are the value streams to evaluate?
- Cants
- Lumber
- Wood Pellets
- Wood Chips
- Mulch
- Animal bedding/shavings
- Compost
- Firewood
- Vigas
- Specialty Wood Products
- Flooring
- Furniture
- Fence posts
- Treated Posts
- Latillas (Wood stays)
- OSB and other stranded material
- Oriented strand board
- Wood wool cement
- Carbon fiber-reinforced plastics
- Wood mass to biochar
- Wood mass to energy
- Secondary processing
- Recreation
- Ecosystem services
- Agriculture
- Grazing
- Water supply
- Fire mitigation
- Carbon credits
- Federal and state funding
- What are the planned forest treatments and the projected volumes of wood or biomass they will yield?
- What is the current status of the state’s stand-based inventory?
- What entity owns and manages each forest stand, i.e., federal, state, county, tribal, or private?
- What types of trees and sizes, including species, age, health, stand structure, and photosynthetic activity?
- What are the slopes and aspects (direction)?
- What percentage of the forest is burned over?
- What percentage is at risk??
- What is the stand's current condition?
- What is the anticipated condition/deterioration in the interim until harvesting activity can be ramped up?
- What cultural, ecological, and hydrological values need to be addressed?
- What is the current forest management plan for the entire forest, and is it current?
- What is the current forest management plan for the stand, and is it up to date?
- What activity is going on in each forest?
- What species are harvested?
- Who is currently harvesting each forest?
- How does each entity type approach its forestry management activities?
- Which stands are not being managed to meet the forest restoration goals, particularly overstocking?
- What is the current forest composition compared to the historic baseline condition?
- What was the historic range of variation?
- How do we move closer to those conditions?
- What is the prescription for this stand?
- What are the species, tree sizes, log volumes, and logging residues to be removed based on the prescription?
- What quantity and type of byproducts (e.g., forest slash) are generated at each forest?
- Are they shipped?
- Where and how?
- What quantity and type of waste products are generated at each forest?
- How and where are they disposed of?
- What are the most significant unmet opportunities?
- What material and volumes from each stand need new market solutions?
- Which entities are best positioned to conduct the harvesting activities in each forest?
- What is the total feedstock volume at the regional level?
- How do the individual forest stands collectively contribute to the overall regional volume of available raw materials?
- How do in-forest logistics assets impact accessibility for harvesting?
- What are the roads in each forest stand?
- What entity owns and maintains those roads?
- What are the legal guidelines for road use, construction, and maintenance?
- What are these roads’ conditions, how has fire damaged them, and how are they vulnerable?
- What work is needed on which roads for accessibility to treat forests?
- What are the seasonal characteristics of these roads?
- What are the characteristics of the critical infrastructure elements in the forest?
- What do we have?
- What’s missing?
- Where are new roads and cleared land needed to render forest material removal viable?
- Given the characteristics and regulations of the in-forest logistics, what percentage of the forest stands are physically accessible?
- Which entities are best positioned to conduct the transportation activities from each forest?
- What are the roads in each forest stand?
- What regional infrastructure supports forest materials’ logistics?
- What is the region’s publicly accessible road network?
- What is the general condition of forest road access?
- What are these area roads' weight, clearance, and safety restrictions?
- Where are the existing railroad main lines, branch lines, spur lines, sidings, and loading infrastructure?
- Where are the existing rail- and truck-served infrastructure assets for transload, distribution, and storage?
- Who owns each facility and network section, and what services and capacities do they have?
- Where can new rail loading facilities enhance forestry operations and minimize transportation costs and impacts?
- Are these new developments commercially viable, or do they need public subsidization?
- What existing and new capacity is needed for short- and long-term harvesting?
- Which entities are best positioned to conduct harvesting activities in each forest?
- What new resources or support does each entity need?
- What are the performance characteristics and costs of available equipment types for harvesting, in-forest logistics, and regional transportation?
- What are the harvesting equipment choices?
- What are the transportation equipment choices?
- What are the specifications of the trucks that can be utilized in each stand in support of each material-removal activity?
- What transportation range can each vehicle type be viable?
- What are the equipment costs for each vehicle type?
- What is the status of diesel-alternative energy technology for each vehicle type?
- What new collaborative pooling of harvesting and transportation equipment improves the financial viability of scaled-up harvesting and logistics?
Phase Three: Conceiving the Forest-to-Market System for Logistics and Processing of Forest Materials Core Questions: Which innovations, logistics, and business systems are needed to significantly increase the local processing of forest materials and efficiently transport large volumes to out-of-area facilities when necessary? How can these new initiatives align with current forestry and economic development efforts?
- How can existing and potential new local processing facilities, including mills, be optimized?
- Where are the in-area timber processing facilities for lumber, pellets, paper, paperboard, energy, biomass?
- What are the significant barriers to and opportunities for developing supply chains related to conventional forestry products for firewood, posts, flooring, timber, vigas, etc.?
- What does each existing facility need to reach its optimum capacity goals?
- How do existing mills fit into a regional strategy?
- How do we coordinate processing capacity among existing mills for optimal benefits?
- What is the ideal size and strategic location for new facilities that process conventional forest products?
- How do weather patterns and conditions affect the choice of location?
- What impact do elevation and terrain (slope direction) have on the selection of a site?
- How does the existing road network influence the choice of location?
- Which other value streams can be nurtured to encompass a complete forest treatment-to-market approach, including new uses of biomass for energy and construction materials?
- What are the significant barriers and opportunities associated with developing supply chains related to biomass energy, biochar, building materials, carbon markets, electricity, and other nontraditional uses of forest products?
- How can biomass and other income streams improve the viability of mill operations?
- What inbound freight exists for forestry and connected and parallel industries, such as papermaking, chemicals, and animal feed?
- Which new associated product manufacturing facilities can be made viable by this coordinated forestry planning?
- What new investments in existing or emerging technologies can be implemented in the region in the short and long term?
- Where should new processing facilities with the latest technologies and products be optimally located?
- Which forest materials need additional out-of-area processing capacity?
- Where are the nearest out-of-area wood processing facilities?
- Which facilities have supply needs or growth potential?
- What new logistics solutions and capital are needed for this long-distance transportation?
- Which logistics services enable the viable transportation of each forest’s harvested materials to the optimal destination?
- What new infrastructure elements are needed for each transportation solution?
- What truck types and numbers are needed for local transportation?
- What railcar types and fleet management strategies are needed for in-state and out-of-state transportation?
- Which transportation providers, including rail, trucking, port, and transload operators, can be engaged to evaluate the commercial feasibility of collecting and delivering forest products to domestic and international markets?
- What financial elements of this forest-to-market solution are needed to support an economically viable, culturally informed, and environmentally sound approach for everyone involved?
- What are the needs and opportunities for investors in this North American Sustainable Forestry Business Plan?
- Who are the investors that want to make these investments?
- What governance and commercial innovations are needed to sustain this collaboration?
- How do we best integrate local and Indigenous values into our process?
- What laws and protocols must be addressed to accommodate this coordination among Canada, the United States, and Mexico?
- How can relations with and between local, state, and federal governments be improved?
- What new governance arrangements need to be undertaken to create these improvements?
- What corporate or coop structures are needed to reflect holistic, collaborative frameworks?
- Who should be seated at the table, and how should it be organized?
- How do we fund whole communities, not just individuals, businesses, homes, and landowners?
- What financial and logistical support should be funded by the federal governments of Mexico, the United States, and Canada?
- Which public-private partnerships can best complete, support, and implement the Business Plan?
- What do agencies need to enable them to share or devolve power or authority to non-governmental or collaborative entities?
- What are the state, provincial, and federal entities' major fiduciary and statutory requirements?
- What governance arrangements are needed to meet these state and federal requirements?
- How do we address inurement prohibitions in organizational structures?
- How do we interface with, support, and augment existing land, water, and forest conservation efforts?
- How do we leverage legacy and current collaborative landscape-scale forestry management activities?
- Specifically, which programs do we build on, and which local and national initiatives do we emulate?
- What pitfalls should be avoided - what has and has not worked?
- How are private lands best integrated into state and federal planning efforts?
- How can progress on private lands assist the overall forest management and stewardship goals?
- How can the USFS and state forestry departments assist in the stewardship of private lands?
- How can we better integrate public and private land stewardship?
- How can collaboration succeed in the region?
- What barriers to progress in forests and the forest industry must be addressed?
- How do we ensure industry involvement is consistent with landscape conservation and community development goals?
- What assessments of existing industry barriers and needs have already been completed? And when were they completed?
- Are local forestry-related businesses changing their business models due to recent fires?
- What assistance do businesses need toward contracting with the State, Fed, or private customers?
- How can we better inform contractors of emergency harvesting activities to retain commercial value and maximize ecological and social benefits?
- What can we learn from the experience of the recent fire mitigation and recovery efforts going forward?
- How can state forestry departments and the national forestry agency (e.g., U.S. Forest Service) improve their collaboration toward shared goals?
- Are the new U.S. Forest Plans completed in 2022 the best framing, or should we follow other legal guidelines? In essence, how do we best integrate with the existing frameworks?
- How does the RE-FOREST collaborate with other large landscape and community forest conservation efforts?
- How do we define the regional boundaries, and with whom must we align or partner in each region?
Throughout: Informing the Conception with Local Knowledge Core Question: What questions do we ask each stakeholder group, and what have they contributed to the collective thinking so far?
- Local and Indigenous peoples
- How does forest and watershed renewal align with your values and lifeways?
- How can newer, more efficient, diversified approaches to forestry further your values or interests?
- What threats to your values and lifeways are occurring from the existing dynamics?
- How do threats from previous or potential wildfires impact your culture and lifeways?
- What opportunities, threats, or disadvantages do you see from a regional forestry strategy?
- Landowners
- Forest management
- What are the primary land stewardship issues landowners face?
- What quality of life goals do we want front and center in a regional forest-to-market approach?
- What environmental concerns do we want to address in a regional forest-to-market approach?
- What assistance is needed to relate to the state and federal government effectively?
- What are the issues in accessing state and federal funds?
- What are the management plan challenges?
- What are the issues in assessing loss?
- What are the issues in implementing fire recovery approaches?
- How can we relate most productively with other landscape cooperatives?
- What is the status of each landowner’s forest management plan?
- What is the total forestry harvesting volume needed to be done annually?
- How much new labor is needed?
- What are the opportunities to establish shared equipment pools?
- Burn wagons
- Firewood processing gear
- Trucks
- What are the opportunities to establish collective forest treatment contracts?
- Which log roads need maintenance?
- How do we better integrate stewardship of public and private lands?
- Connect with the State Lands Office
- How can smaller landowners participate in this Action Plan?
- How do we integrate federal recovery funding granted to individual landowners into a coherent strategy?
- Forest management
- Market development
- What challenges identifying contractors need to be addressed?
- Bonding and legitimacy of payroll protocols render many small contractors ineligible for government funding.
- What challenges in identifying markets for materials need to be addressed?
- For which forest materials has it proven easier to find contractors?
- What issues with contractors need to be addressed?
- What issues with processors need to be addressed?
- What types and volumes of material need new local processing capacity?
- Which forest material needs a costs-for-service agreement?
- Where should new milling capacity be established?
- What entity and organizational structure best supports this overall forest-to-market system?
- What involvement of the large landowners should be considered?
- Volume guarantees
- Investment in facilities and infrastructure
- Short-term advances against costs, then reimbursed by product supply
- What involvement of the large landowners should be considered?
- What concerns for privacy, confidentiality, and appropriate treatment of information need to be addressed within a collaborative planning process?
- What education for landowners is needed?
- How can we establish a fair and impartial process for timber valuation?
- What elements comprise a productive and fair regional forest material “exchange”?
- What challenges identifying contractors need to be addressed?
- Fire prevention and mitigation
- How can prescribed fire be used productively and safely as a management strategy?
- How is fear of fire handicapping overall effectiveness?
- How can we improve the process for obtaining burn and smoke permits?
- How can we coordinate a regional fire management strategy?
- How do each landowner’s priorities fit into the larger landscape approach?
- How do we use geospatial information to guide fuel break locations and related strategies?
- What are the optimal uses of fuel breaks within the overall forest management strategy?
- What factors need to be incorporated into a fuel breaks strategy?
- Where are the prevailing winds?
- What is the optimal scale of prescribed burns?
- What are the associated costs at various scales?
- Where are the optimal locations to focus forest thinning activities?
- How can prescribed fire be used productively and safely as a management strategy?
- Burnt forest issues
- What has to happen for soil and erosion control?
- What can be done with the forest slash safely and viably?
- What are the uses of burnt forest material?
- What is needed to restore the roads?
- What is needed to restore the acequias?
- What is needed to restore the fences?
- What is needed to restore the water system?
- Local and Indigenous peoples
- What are the trespass issues that need to be addressed?
- ATVs
- Poaching for game
- Taking firewood
- Partying
- Vandalism
- Questions for individual landowners
- Is the high density of burned or unburned trees a severe challenge on your lands?
- What concerns about how adjacent forests to your lands are being managed?
- What harvesting activity are you doing now, and how?
- What is your on-staff and available contracting capacity for forest harvesting?
- How many acres would you treat if a viable approach were developed within this comprehensive forest-to-market strategy?
- In what timeframe do you want to have this acreage treated?
- How do you want to participate in the development of the Action Plan?
- How do you want to participate in the implementation of the Action Plan?
- What is your political influence, and how can we activate that influence as a group?
- Will you engage with OTNA to make a case for this Action Plan with decision-makers?
- Will you contribute financially to this effort?
- Will you agree to this participation agreement?
- I promise to respond to the OTNA emails or phone messages within 48 hours or sooner when time is crucial.
- I promise to invest up to 1-2 hours a week in reading and writing when asked so that my input effectively contributes to this effort.
- What else needs to be investigated?
- What is the condition and use of area wood-fired boiler systems?
- State and federal forestry staff
- Administrative
- How does the U.S. Forest Service Planning Rule 2012 inform the local work?
- What Forest Plans have been completed?
- What other legal guidelines have to be recognized?
- What is the best way to coordinate with these plans and guidelines?
- What funding or other support opportunities can we tie into, and how can state and federal agencies assist?
- How do we assist states and agencies in attaining funding and logistical support?
- What misinformation challenges you?
- What information do you need to spread?
- How can we use our networks to inform and educate the public and decision-makers?
- Current Efforts Assessment
- How do we build upon and augment the legacy and ongoing collaborative landscape-scale forestry efforts already underway?
- Specifically, which programs do you suggest building on, and what models do you suggest we emulate among local initiatives and national programs?
- What pitfalls should be avoided - what has worked and what has not?
- What can we learn from the experience of the recent fire mitigation and recovery efforts going forward?
- How can State Forestry Divisions and the U.S. Forest Service improve their collaboration toward shared goals?
- What is the most appropriate balance between post-fire recovery and future fire mitigation?
- What assessments of existing industry barriers and needs have been completed, and when?
- What other large landscape and ecosystem planning efforts are underway?
- How do you suggest RE-FOREST collaborate with these other forest conservation efforts?
- Administrative
- Private Land Coordination
- How are private lands best integrated into these state and federal planning efforts?
- How can progress on private lands assist the overall forest management and stewardship goals?
- How can the USFS and State Forestry Divisions assist in the stewardship of private lands?
- How can we better synthesize public and private land stewardship?
- Forestry and forest products business leaders
- How can we improve how federal agencies handle forest material?
- Bid before harvesting so it can be cut to suitable lengths
- FEMA, in post-fire situations, has little connection to forest companies and landowners and is chopping material into 4’-6’ pieces with limited utility
- How do we level the playing field between large national and local contractors?
- How can we improve communications between the local forest industry and state and federal agencies?
- Close the timber sales promptly on state and private lands
- How do we establish communications between the USFS and the timber industry?
- What federal policies concerning forest management need to be re-evaluated?
- NEPA needs to be streamlined
- NEPA exception in devasted landscapes and Federal Disaster Zones
- Archaeological sites are already known and have typically already been damaged
- 1990 Roadless Act, passed during the Clinton administration, requires using main roads only
- Carson National Forest and the Bridge Road area had 100,000+ latillas that could have been harvested in the aftermath of the 2022 Hermits Peak/Calf’s Canyon Fire, but for the closure of the roads
- They need to take a whole forest management approach
- The prohibition against salvage alongside forest treatment has to be removed
- The federal agencies that are involved in forest management, recreation, fire recovery, environmental issues, wildlife, and transportation aren’t coordinating
- Need equipment loans to cover operating capital, FSA loans are capped, stringent requirements, 150% collateral
- How can we improve communications and understanding with the environmental community?
- Recognize loggers as environmentalists.
- How can we improve how landowners relate to forest treatment, local logging, and mill management?
- Need to address small landowners’ burned trees near their homes
- Communication and Education
- Forest treatment for material contracts
- Utilize the logging and mill owners to educate the landowners and others
- Establish a local marketplace hub for pricing, supply, and offers on forest treatment services and material disposition
- What other challenges in doing your work do we want to address?
- What capacity increases would you like to be capitalized for?
- What shortcomings do you find in how banks relate to you?
- There are no local banks that offer standard equipment financing
- Need a new low-interest/reasonable-interest equipment loan fund
- Banks don’t understand the non-equipment capital needs
- Need a new source of collateral and guarantee
- Need a method for valuing wood inventory
- Need to be considered an ag industry
- In addition to capital, what else do you need to grow?
- What are the opportunities to share and coordinate equipment across your businesses?
- What are the opportunities to share and coordinate wood supply contacts and relationships across your businesses?
- What are the opportunities to coordinate forest activity across your businesses?
- What concerns about this cooperation do you want to make sure are addressed?
- What are your other concerns about the current system, and how can it be improved to better assist you in expanding your work?
- How can we address the need for more skilled labor, operators, and managers?
- Environmentalists have to stop stigmatizing logging
- Invite equipment providers like Ponsee to participate in training
- How can we address the need for additional employee housing in emergencies?
- How can state and federal financial and logistical support better serve your needs?
- How can we improve how federal agencies handle forest material?
- Local public sector and community leaders
- How have the recent fires impacted your community and your work?
- What goals would your community want to see advanced from this forestry action plan?
- What concerns do you want to ensure are addressed in this Action Plan?
- What resource limits need to be addressed for this initiative to be successful? Potential issues include, but are not limited to:
- Housing
- Labor force
- Road capacity
- Transportation networks
- More effective and relevant state and federal support
- What adjustments to your current role or mission would enable you to focus more on long-term collective benefit?
- Environmental groups
- How do you define and conceive forest and watershed health?
- How does forest and watershed health impact your work and programmatic mission?
- How have recent fires impacted your mission and operations?
- What are the significant barriers to improving forest and watershed health?
- What are the significant opportunities for improving forest and watershed health?
- What concerns for the vitality of the environment, watersheds, and wildlife do you want to have a role in addressing within this forest-to-market strategy?
- How can your organization support a positive view of forest workers as environmental stewards?
- Foundations and philanthropists
- What forest and watershed issues are the most significant challenges?
- How have the recent fires impacted your actions and role?
- What needs are not addressed under the current system?
- What would help you make your work more effective?
- What resources can you provide to this Initiative, and what questions and guidance do you have toward applying those resources?
- New technology developers
- What technology could be productively included in this initiative?
- What is the current status of your technology and its deployment?
- What capital or support is needed to advance your technology?
- Foundational questions for all stakeholders
- What resources do you have in your control that may be helpful to this Initiative?
- What resources do you know outside your control that you want to ensure we are aware of?
- What resources do you want assistance accessing?
- What is your vision for how the federal government, the state, and the region should relate to this Initiative?
- How do you want to participate in this Initiative?
- Based on your understanding of this initiative, do you want the state and federal governments to embrace and support the project?
