New Study Shows Long-Term Financial Advantages of Community Forestry: Despite up-front costs, ecologically-responsible management returns higher economic rewards than industrial forestry model over 60 year period.
A new study released by the non-profit Institute for Sustainable Forestry (ISF) demonstrates the long-term financial advantages of an ecologically-responsible "Community Forest" management model. The study found that this balanced, environmentally-sensitive approach to forestry would generate $1.1 billion more income than traditional industrial timber management over a 60-year period.
The study team used the forestlands of the troubled Scotia-Pacific Company (ScoPac) as a case study due to the copious amount of publicly-available data regarding the company's finances and the condition of the company's lands. The team also had input from other foresters, forest economists, investors, and environmentalists.
The ScoPac case study is stark, but is by no means unique. Throughout the North Coast forest fragmentation is a real and increasing concern driven by high debt loads, increasing operational costs, static prices for sawlogs, and high real estate values. Under these conditions timberland owners and managers have significant incentives to forfeit future harvests, keep inventories low and to subsidize current operational costs with land sales to private investors and speculators.
ISF's Limited Valuation makes three things clear:
* First, SCOPAC lands are currently saddled with debt payments approximately $300 million in excess of what can be retrieved from sale of timber over the first 30 years of industrial (the "traditional timber model") management.
* Second, ecologically responsible management will produce $1.46 billion more income than traditional industrial timber management over the second 30 years.
* Third, ecologically responsible management (the "community forest" model") of the SCOPAC timber resource would produce $365 million less revenue than traditional industrial management over the first 30 years.
Financing Sustainability
http://newforestry.org/council/FinancingSustainability.htm
More Updates
- ISF Press Release on Palco/ScoPac bankruptcy filing
2007-01-29
ISF on Palco/ScoPac Bankruptcy Filing:
Financing Conservation Forestry requires upfront investments to protect conservation values in working forests.
- Future Forests on the North Coast
2005-10-27
On October 27th a broad spectrum over 60 forest advocates, landowners, professional foresters, conservation groups, timber companies and forest practitioners gathered in Eureka, Ca to discuss a shared goal: Maintain Healthy and Productive Working Forests on the North Coast. The Institute for Sustainable Forestry (ISF) organized the Future Forests working session in response to the impact of rising Humboldt County land values on the economic viability of maintaining large blocks of forestland for timber production, rural quality of life and conservation values.
- ISF in the North Coast Journal - Finding Common Ground Over Timber
2005-03-06
ISF's March 2005 Commentary in the North Coast Journal:
After more than a century as the cornerstone of the North Coast economy, lumber companies are in trouble. Industry spokespeople find it easy to blame the high cost of regulation and environmental activism for their economic difficulties. But, a closer look at the overall forest products industry reveals a different perspective....
- Community Forestry: Nick's Interns trail building at So Hum Community Park forest restoration project
2005-02-15
ISF, Nick's Interns and SHCP work togther to provide a community access trail through SHCP's demonstration restoration and community forestry project.
- ISF and Working Forest Group
2005-01-30
Institute for Sustainable Forestry and the Working Forest Group
to provide forest management and planning services to foresters, companies, and organizations that seek the highest standards of forest management.
- ISF State of Sustainability Report Summary
2004-06-30
This report summary reviews recent global, national, state and local trends in the softwood lumber industry and provides a brief summary of policy issues in sustainable forestry. The report was written and distributed as background for ISF's June 26th, 2004 Community Planning Session in Briceland, CA.
- ISF Position Paper - Press Release
2004-02-18
The Institute for Sustainable Forestry has just released a position paper outlining its vision for sustainable timber management and sustainable timber harvest in Northwestern California. In releasing the position paper ISF is calling on Second District Supervisorial candidates to agree to promote ISF's vision and recommendations for reinvigorating the timber industry in Southern Humboldt County.
- Sustainable Hardwoods Update
2003-12-10
Update on ISF's California native hardwood development efforts and the Sustainable Hardwood Network on the northcoast.
- Woody Biomass Utilization Forum Presentations
2003-09-23
ISF Woody Biomass Utilization Forum, wood chips, forest residues, electric energy generation, heat
