What Does the US Forest Service Say About Timber?

There's so much to consider when it comes to selling your timber. Is the land protected? Is a species on the land protected? How old should standing timber be before it's sold? Are there restrictions for logs as well? The list goes on and on. While the US Forest Service may not have definitive laws about every aspect of the timber sales and forestry processes, there are a number of best practices and guidelines that the government has put in place in order to make sure landowners looking to sell their timber and companies that buy that timber remain committed to protecting, preserving, and assisting with the growth of our local ecosystems. At Green Ridge Forest Products, we're committed to practicing sustainable timber harvesting that not only complies with the US Forest Service's recommendations-- but exceeds them. We believe that timber is a resource that, with the right conservation methods, can last us for generations. We also believe those conservation efforts have to start now. Timber has been a vital part of the Pennsylvania ecosystem for centuries, and we intend to help keep it that way for centuries to come!

The US Forest Service and Forestry Sustainability

Unlike humans and animals, most plants take a long time to grow. Large, mature trees that make up the forests we see today were likely planted decades ago, and, in many cases, won't be done growing for decades more. Although they're not indigenous to the area, giant sequoias and California redwoods are examples of two tree species that can live for thousands of years with ease. In our neck of the woods, the Sacred Oak is estimated by many to be somewhere around 700 years old, and it's still as healthy as can be. Sustainability is a big part of the mission of the US Forest Service, and it's not hard to see why. Cutting down certain trees to make room for underbrush and preserve the habitat of the animals in the area nourishes the forest and helps preserve it for years to come. The US Forest Service places an emphasis on sustainable forestry practices that protect landmark trees and preserve the habitats that these trees create. Here at Green Ridge Forest Products, we've made it our mission to cultivate the soil and properly care for the remaining trees after we've harvested timber to ensure we're contributing just as much as we're using nature's resources!

Reforestation

Reforestation is the process of replanting trees to stimulate the healthy growth of forests. The US Forest Service has been quite vocal about its commitment to reforestation over the past years-- even going so far as to offer landowners incentives for planting trees and refraining from cutting down certain trees on private land. As forestry experts, we're among the first in the Pennsylvania forestry industry to learn about these incentives, and we're always eager to pass them on to our clients, when applicable. The way we see it, getting our clients paid for doing the right thing is a win-win, no matter how you look at it. As part of our commitment to making a positive lasting impact on our clients' land, we go out of our way to ensure that any initiatives or incentives available to you throughout the forestry process are clearly articulated and explained.

Being Smart About Your Timber

We've been in the timber industry for generations, and one of the things we've seen with the US Forest Service is the organization's tendency to leave rules and parameters open-ended. Over the years, we've taken that to mean that the laws are in place to help protect our forests, but there's always more that can be done. We believe that forestry  is a trade that shouldn't be taken lightly, and we understand that our impact on the forests affects not only us, but the future. That's why we do everything in our power to educate our clients on the importance of being smart about their timber. Knowing what's on your land, researching the rules and regulations of your particular region, and working with Pennsylvania loggers and foresters that respect the land as much as you do can help preserve the fragility of our ecosystems for the generations to come after us. At Green Ridge Forest Products, we're committed to being smart about timber. And we'll never stop looking for ways to improve what we do.