Community Forestry Resource Center
Weekly News and Event Summary
October 17, 2003
This message includes news, headlines, and information gathered during the week.
------------------------CONTENTS:
HEADLINES:
Notification of Pending FSC Certification Evaluation of Wisconsin State Forests
Wilderness feeds Ely's economic resurgence (MN)
Layoffs hit hard in paper mill town (WI)
Record log exports raise alarm (Canada)
Frederick County, Forestry Officials Nuts for Recycling (VA)
Judge says logging needs federal pollution permits
EU aims to stem illegal rainforest timber trade
------------------------For more headlines visit:
http://www.forestrycenter.org/cfrc/News/News.cfm
EVENTS:
Forest Maintenance Field Day
October 25, 2003, Tom and Toni McMillin’s Tree Farm, Kellogg, MN
2003 Virginia Environmental Assembly
October 25, 2003, Roanoke, VA
Invasive Plants in Natural and Managed Systems: Linking Science and Management
in conjunction with 7th International Conference on Ecology and Management of Alien
Plant Invasions
November 3-8, 2003, Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Partnerships for the Northern Forest:
2nd Annual Northern Forest Community Leadership Exchange
& 1st Meeting of the Northeastern States Research Cooperative
November 13-14, 2003, Burlington, Vermont
Eastern Oregon Small Diameter Wood Products Fair
March 2-3, 2004, La Grande, Oregon
----------------------For more event listings visit:
http://www.forestrycenter.org/cfrc/Calendar/Cal.cfm
INFORMATION:
Northern Forest Forum
AFOA’s October News Conference
-------------------------For more documents and information visit:
http://www.forestrycenter.org/cfrc/library/listcontent.cfm
PUBLICATIONS:
How Much Wood Has Your Woodlot Got?, by J Piers Maclaren (New Zealand)
Forest Certification and Communities: Looking Forward to the Next Decade by August
Molnar
Balancing Ecology and Economics:
A Start-up Guide for Forest Owner Cooperation, 2nd Edition
-----------------------------HEADLINES:
Notification of Pending FSC Certification Evaluation of Wisconsin State Forests
Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is seeking Forest Stewardship
Council (FSC) endorsed certification for their State Forest program. During the early and
middle 20th century the Wisconsin State Forests were created from a combination of
private donations and public funding to maintain watersheds and unique ecosystems in
Wisconsin, and manage forests for long-term sustainable use. Currently, Wisconsin State
Forests encompass over 490,000 acres of publicly owned forests, including the following
State Forests, which fall under the scope of this evaluation: Black River State Forest,
Brule River, Coulee Experimental, Flambeau River, Governor Knowles, Kettle MoraineNorthern and Southern Units, Northern Highland/American Legion, Peshtigo River, and
Point Beach.
Scope and Certification Evaluation Process
Scientific Certification Systems (SCS), a FSC-accredited certification body based in
Emeryville, California, will conduct this FSC evaluation. Performance will be evaluated
against the FSC Lake States-Central Hardwoods Regional Standard, which has been
officially endorsed by FSC International. A copy of the standard is available upon
request from SCS or can be downloaded from www.fscstandards.org.
The Evaluation Process Includes the Following Phases:
a) Public notification, solicitation of comments on the certification applicant
b) Audit planning and document review
c) Field assessment - A representative sample of field sites and operations within the
defined forest area are inspected.
d) Stakeholder consultation.
e) Synthesis of findings and scoring Compliance with the standard is ascertained and
the certification decision is formulated
f) Draft report A report describing the evaluation process, findings, and certification
decision is produced.
g) Peer review The evaluation report is peer reviewed by 2 independent natural
resource professionals.
h) Delivery of final certification report
i)
Public summary of certification report is released, if certification is awarded
Call for Public Participation
SCS welcomes comments on the Wisconsin DNR State Forest program or other topics
pertinent to their seeking FSC certification, such as identification of high conservation
value forests[1] within the State forests. Comments can be submitted via email, standard
mail, or facsimile to Dave Wager, Director Forest Management Certification, Scientific
Certification Systems, 145 Park Place, Point Richmond, CA 94801, Tel (510) 236-9099,
Fax (510) 236-8598, e-mail: dwager@scscertified.com
Dates
The field evaluation is scheduled to commence during the week of November 10, 2003.
Dispute Resolution Procedure
As provided by the FSC Interim Dispute Resolution Protocol (Document 1.4.3) and the
SCS Forest Conservation Program Operations Manual, dispute resolution procedures are
in place and available to interested parties.
Additional Information
More information about FSC and SCS can be obtained from www.fscoax.org and
www.scscertified.com. Information on Wisconsin DNR can be found at
www.dnr.state.wi.us/org/land/forestry/.
---------------------------Wilderness feeds Ely's economic resurgence (MN)
As arguments over the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness spilled across
Minnesota in the 1970s, the vitriol cut deepest in the traditional gateway to the lakestrewn Quetico-Superior country. Settled mostly by hardworking Slovenian and Finnish
immigrants, Ely was home to divisive public debates and blockades. Now, with the
memories subdued by time, Ely is making a comeback.
http://www.duluthsuperior.com/mld/duluthtribune/7001723.htm
------------------------------Layoffs hit hard in paper mill town (WI)
WISCONSIN RAPIDS - Three years after the jolt of losing its foremost employer to
global consolidation, this central Wisconsin community is still feeling tremors.
The Finnish company Stora Enso has eliminated hundreds of jobs and scrapped machines
that employed generations of workers for the local Consolidated Papers. And now the
community is bracing for further cuts after the company recently announced its intention
to cut about 1,000 more jobs corporationwide by 2005.
http://www.duluthsuperior.com/mld/duluthtribune/6960294.htm
-----------------------------Record log exports raise alarm (Canada)
British Columbia exported a record number of logs last year -- almost one in every four
sawlogs harvested on the coast -- raising alarms from both workers and manufacturing
companies that too much raw timber is leaving the province. Export figures from the
ministry of forests show 3.7 million cubic metres of timber -- over 100,000 truckloads of
logs -- were shipped out of B.C. last year, the highest volume on record. Exports have
jumped dramatically as a result of the softwood lumber dispute with the U.S. Lumber is
now subject to 27.2 per cent in duties. Logs, destined for manufacture in the U.S., are
duty-free.
http://www.canada.com/vancouver/vancouversun/story.asp?id=370D2976-9B0F-421599D3-FBFBA0A8D601
----------------------------Frederick County, Forestry Officials Nuts for Recycling (VA)
Now, Frederick County Recycling and state forestry officials want people to recycle their
acorns and nuts. “The (Virginia Department of Forestry) has been running short on
hardwood seeds that they use for reforestation and stream restoration projects, so now
they’re turning to the citizens to help,” said Gloria Puffinburger, Frederick County solid
waste manager. The acorns will be accepted at all the trash collection sites in the county,
as well as at the local Department of Forestry office on Valley Avenue in Winchester,
behind the former Montgomery Ward building.
http://www.winchesterstar.com/TheWinchesterStar/031011/Area_RCY.asp
------------------------------Judge says logging needs federal pollution permits
SAN FRANCISCO -- Timber companies that engage in forest logging should be required
to obtain federal stormwater pollution permits, a federal judge here has said in a first-ofits-kind ruling.
http://www.heraldtribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20031016/APN/310160617
---------------------------EU aims to stem illegal rainforest timber trade
European Union farm ministers meeting on Monday instructed the EU's executive
Commission to draft legislation for certifying legal timber imports in a bid to clean up the
$150 billion global forest product trade.
http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L13169060.htm
------------------------------EVENTS
Forest Maintenance Field Day
October 25, 2003, Tom and Toni McMillin’s Tree Farm, Kellogg, MN
Hiawatha Sustainable Woods Cooperative and others are sponsoring a field day to learn
about forest maintenance techniques. Demonstrations include: plantation thinning,
invasive species i.d., kiln drying, TSI, oak regeneration, low impact harvesting,
conventional harvest site, black walnut plantation, marking and harvesting low quality
trees and more.
http://www.forestrycenter.org/cfrc/Calendar/detail.cfm?whichevent=676
------------------------------2003 Virginia Environmental Assembly
October 25, 2003, Roanoke, VA
This year's theme is "Preserving What is Best about Virginia - Urban and Rural." That is
why we have selected Center in the Square in downtown Roanoke as our meeting
location. Center in the Square houses the Art, History, and Science Museum and the Mill
Mountain Theater. Twenty years ago these museums moved into an abandoned
downtown. Twenty years later, Roanoke has a thriving downtown and Center in the
Square is credited with initiating the revitalization.
Additional information is on the VCN website at www.vcnva.org.
------------------------------Invasive Plants in Natural and Managed Systems: Linking Science and Management
in conjunction with 7th International Conference on Ecology and Management of Alien
Plant Invasions
November 3-8, 2003, Fort Lauderdale, Florida
The goals of the Conference are to enhance dialogue between scientists, managers, and
practitioners in order to broaden our understanding of the science, needs, and prospects
for efficient management of non-native plant invasions and to foster interdisciplinary
cooperation on the science and management of invasive exotic plants.
http://esa.org/ipinams-emapi7/registration_brochure.htm
-----------------------------Partnerships for the Northern Forest:
2nd Annual Northern Forest Community Leadership Exchange
& 1st Meeting of the Northeastern States Research Cooperative
November 13-14, 2003, Burlington, Vermont
Partnerships for the Northern Forest is a comprehensive regional working conference
featuring a range of workshops, discussions, and activities. Registration Deadline is
October 31st, 2003
http://www.northernforest.org/events.htm
------------------------------Eastern Oregon Small Diameter Wood Products Fair
March 2-3, 2004, La Grande, Oregon
The first greater eastern Oregon regional small diameter wood products fair will convene
leading businesses, community leaders, and entrepreneurs to shape the future of the wood
products industry. More than 200 people will gather for two days of workshops, panel
discussions, exhibits, product design competitions, and networking events that will help
eastern Oregon become a leader in ecosystem restoration, wildfire risk reduction and
wood products utilization.
http://www.wallowaresources.org/woodfair/index.htm
------------------------------INFORMATION
Northern Forest Forum
Promoting eco-friendly human interaction with natural Northern New England, Canadian
Maritimes and the northwest Atlantic.
http://www.northernappalachianrestoration.org/
------------------------------AFOA’s October News Conference
AFOA's News Conferences are designed for owners of forestland. Forest Masters Credits
are available. Enjoy.
OCTOBER HEADLINES:
o EPA Needs Support Defending Forestry
o Eminent Domain Abuse: Course of Action
o Timber Income Tax Short Course in December
o SynFuel from Wood May Become New Market Option
o Off Road Vehicle Riders Seek Trail Areas
o Spotlight on National Association of Royalty Owners
o Exploring Rural Land Use Changes
o Land Auctions: Good for Buyers and Sellers
Open AFOA's website at: www.alabamaforestowners.com and click on "OCTOBER
NEWS CONFERENCE"
-----------------------------PUBLICATIONS
How Much Wood Has Your Woodlot Got?, by J Piers Maclaren (New Zealand)
This book has been written to show non-specialist tree growers how to estimate the
volume and value of wood in a stand of trees. In keeping with this aim, the information in
this "recipe" book is presented in as non-technical a way as possible. Equations and
mathematical symbols have been kept to essentials, and their interpretation and use are
explained through case studies and worked examples. Technical terms are explained in a
glossary.
http://touchwoodbooks.co.nz/thowmuch.html
-----------------------Forest Certification and Communities: Looking Forward to the Next Decade by August
Molnar
This book from Forest Trends reports that about 50 communities managing 1.1 million
hectares of forest had been certified under the FSC system as of August 2002. Most were
in Mexico and Guatemala, with scattered cases elsewhere. The Sustainable Forestry
Initiative (SFI) and the Pan-European Forest Certification (PEFC) systems have certified
forests owned by individual smallholders, but not forests owned by communities.
Molnar says getting certified has helped communities in several ways, if not always with
higher prices. These include greater recognition, more secure tenure, financial and
technical support from governments and donors and access to new markets. In
addition, some large companies have improved workers' safety and relations with their
neighbors. The certification process has also given indigenous people and other
traditionally marginalized groups a seat at the table.
To request a free electronic copy of this paper in English or Spanish in pdf format you
can write Megumi Hiromitso at mhiromitsu@forest-trends.org To send comments or
queries to the author write Augusta Molner at: amolnar@forest-trends.org
------------------------------Balancing Ecology and Economics: A Start-up Guide for Forest Owner Cooperation, 2nd
Edition
To help address some of the challenges faced by private woodland owners,
the University of Wisconsin Center for Cooperatives (UWCC), Cooperative
Development Services (CDS) and the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy's
Community Forestry Resource Center (CFRC) have published a second edition
of Balancing Ecology and Economics: A Start-up Guide for Forest Owner
Cooperation. The 160-page guide is intended to show how private landowners,
working together, can improve the ecological conditions of their lands while
at the same time improving their own economic well-being and that of the
communities in which their forest land is located.
The guide draws upon the experiences of several established or forming sustainable
forestry co-ops, as well as the experience of CDS, UWCC, and CFRC of IATP.
Intended primarily for landowners and resource managers, the guide provides
essential information on all aspects of establishing a forest owner cooperative,
including:
* forest management,
* marketing,
* business planning,
* co-op governance,
* cooperative structures,
* non-timber forest products,
* sustainable certification,
* developing member education programs, and more.
The cost of the manual is $13, plus sales tax for Minnesota residents.
For more information about Sustainable Forestry Cooperatives, or to order a copy
of Balancing Ecology and Economics: A Start-Up Guide for Forest Owner
Cooperation, please visit: http://www.forestrycenter.org
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