sensible ronmenlqlist

By Dr. Patrick Moore

Dear Dr. Moore:

How can I be sure that the lumber I buy comes from a sustainably managed forest?

If you buy North American lumber, there are many reasons to feel confident that it comes from a sustainably managed forest-first and foremost, because North American forests cover about the same area of land as they did 100 years ago.

There's also the multitude of forestry and conservation laws designed to protect the long-term health of the resource. There's the fact that the United States and Canada work closely with the international community to advance ecosystem research and use the information to improve forest policy and practices.

For those who want added assurance, there's also the current trend toward sustainable forest certification. In the U.S. and Canada, about 225 million acres have been independently certified, which is equivalent to more than twice the size of Califomia.

To be certified, companies undergo independent audits. Among other things, they're required to demonstrate how they protect soil and water, conserve biodiversity, and maintain wildlife habitat. They also have to show that they're harvesting less wood than the forest can regenerate, which is, of course, critical.

It's interesting that forest certification becomes increasingly necessary the farther you get away from an actual forest. In forest communities such as the one I grew up in, people are logically more aware of the efforts that go into forest management-the surveying, the planning, public consultation, regeneration, tendingmany of which are eclipsed by harvesting in the minds of people elsewhere. Those who live close by see for themselves that North America forests are vast and growing, that foresters are committed to sustainability, and that sustainability means more than simply planting trees.

In other countries and even some U.S. cities, people have little idea of the laws that exist to ensure forest sustainability-or they don't believe the laws are being followed. It's up to forest companies to prove themselves; certification allows them to do that.

As a sensible environmentalist, I find the abundance of forests in this country gives me confidence in the laws that govern forest sustainability. I support certification, however, as a way to encourage continuous improvement and show people around the world that North Americans take seriously their role as responsible forest stewards.

- Dr. Moore has been a leader of the environmental movement for more than 30 years. Send questions to patrick@sensib le e nv iro nme nta I i st.c om.

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Desert Lumber Adding Yard

Desert Lumber, Las Vegas, Nv., has acquired an RV park in Pahrump, Nv., to convert into a full-service, contractor-oriented lumberyard.

The company gave trailer park residents until May l5-more than two months-to find a new home. Trailers remaining after the deadline will be moved off the property, allowing construction to begin soon after.

Co-owner Dale Eggers hopes construction will be complete by the third quarter of 2005, but admitted a fourth quarter opening was more realistic.

Terry Ono founded the company in 1989 and l0 years later sold it to Crown Pacific, which renamed it Alliance Lumber. Eggers and Ono bought the firm last year and restored the Desert Lumber name.

Interfor Buying Oregon Mill

Looking for opportunities to further expand into the Northwest after buying three mills from Crown Pacific last year, Interfor Pacific has agreed to acquire Floragon Forest Products by May 31.

The subsidiary of International Forest Products, Vancouver, B.C., will pay $50 million for the Molalla,

Or., stud mill-plus a bonus if the facility hits certain profit levels in the next year. In 2004, Floragon had $91.5 million in sales and production of 220 million bd. ft.

Floragon has invested over $8 million to upgrade the plant and turn it into one of the nation's highest producing stud mills.

With the addition of Floragon, Interfor will become the world's 12th largest lumber producer with 35Vo of its output from the U.S.

Floragon's principals-Ben Beddingfield, v.p. Rick Schaefer, and sales manager Howard "Lefty" Page -are expected to continue managing the Molalla mill. Three silent partners will not stay on. Interfor also agreed to hire all215 Floragon employees.

Old Growth Cutting In Alaska

Residents in Ketchikan. Ak.. are frantically try to raise funds to purchase part of a 4,800-acre old growth forest before it can be logged.

The landowner. the Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority, has been selectively harvesting old growth timber behind the former pulp mill town and next wants to clear-cut most of the Leask Lakes parcel. The trust is in a hurry to log the old growth timber since sawmills increasingly are retooling to handle smaller, second growth logs. "The industry is moving to the next generation," said acting executive director Wendy Woolf.

A consultant retained by the trust predicted that the market for old growth timber from Southeast Alaska would probably evaporate in three to five years.

"That market is coming to an end," said Doug Campbell. senior resource manager for the trust. "Knowing that, we moved forward to do asset management planning, and we're moving forward with that."

The coalition of homeowners had hoped to raise $1.5 million to purchase several hundred acres that abutted two lakes and a salmon stream. Then, in March, trust officials informed the group that, because of its fiduciary duty to maximize revenue for its beneficiaries, it would only sell all 4,800 acres together and only after it was logged.

Campbell estimated the property to be worth $10 million to $13 million as is or $3 million after logging.

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Stock Expands To Alaska

Stock Building Supply is partnering with sister company Ferguson in Anchorage, Ak., to open a new lumberyard-the first of many steps to introduce and expand Stock into the Anchorage market.

Stock will offer lumber and building materials, with Ferguson providing plumbing and HVAC supplies.

"The Anchorage location is an excellent opportunity for both Stock and Ferguson to offer our products

Landmark Now NorPac

North Pacific Group, Inc., Portland, Or., has integrated nearly all of its businesses-including Landmark Building Products, Rancho Cucamonga, Ca.-under one name, North Pacific.

Other subsidiaries now known as North Pacific include Saxonville USA, Delta Forest Products, Allen Timber, and Schultz, Snyder & Steele.

Staff, locations and product lines have not changed. All Web sites were merged into www.northpacif- together in a 'whole house' solution where we have already established a presence," said Stock executive v.p. Gary Robinette. "And we also are excited to have a 'local' introduce Stock to the Anchorage community and look forward to the relationships and business that will be developed."

The "local" connection is location manager Brandon Ray, an Anchorage native who has worked at Stock yards in Utah since 1996.

Raleigh, N.C.-based Stock now ic.com and email addresses now end with @northpacific.com. operates more than 238 locations in 27 states, with sales of $3.6 billion in fisca|2004.

"Uniting all businesses under one name leverages the ownership of North Pacific and strengthens our position in the markets we serve," said NorPac c.e.o. Jay Ross. "What will not change is our ability to respond quickly and make deci sions locally to the benefit of our customers and suppliers."

Founded in 1948, NorPac is one of the largest distributors in the U.S., reaching $1.5 billion in sales annuallv.

Port Blakely Buys Sales Arm

The tree farms subsidiary of Port Blakely Co., Seattle, Wa., has acquired Pacific Lumber & Shipping, Seatttle, to assist with lumber sales in the Pacific Rim.

Port Blakely Tree Farms owns and manages forestland in Oregon and Washington. The company was founded in 1864 and has 100 employees, according to c.e.o. and president Jim Warjone.

Pacific Lumber & Shipping is a log export and forest products company with operations in Longview and Olympia, Wa., and Vancouver, B.C. The company has more than 30 years of marketing experience in Pacific Rim countries.

Pacific will operate as an independent company and retain its l2 employees, including c.e.o. and president Jerry Weed.

"This acquisition will help ensure an increasingly competitive market for high-quality timber exports throughout the Pacific Rim," said Warjone.