AN OVERVIEW OF THE DRAFTWOOD CERTIFICATION OF ENVIRONMENTALLY SENSITIVELY HARVESTED FOREST PRODUCTS IN THE APPALACHIAN REGION

 

 

Stewardship, in the simplest definition, means leaving a place better than you found it.

 

The goal of this process is to use the best knowledge and experience of woods workers to improve the forest and environment, while addressing human needs for forest products. The results of these methods are an improved forest value and a preserved woodland ecology. With this approach and philosophy we attempt to manage the forest in the best way possible, given the many site specific factors each piece of woodland presents.

It is recognized that each site has it's own specific history and characteristics, particular to itself. These considerations shall be taken into account in the selection process of deciding which trees are to be harvested. It is understood that generally most timberland has been subjected to high grading or removing only the best and leaving the rest, for the past several harvests. In order to correct this history of bad management, we propose to take the worst first and remove enough trees to keep the forest in a natural state of continuous canopy, diversified tree species, undisturbed soil structure, protected stream courses and nurtured biology.

Each site will probably have it's own harvest rotation schedule unique to it's own characteristics and history. We plan for the rotations to be 10-30 years apart. The selection shall be balanced in that all tree species will be harvested when mature, not just the valuable ones. The result will be a many aged forest of varied height, age, diameter, maturity, etc. This will be an imitation of nature’s own process, as seen in a virgin forest.

Each tree will be viewed as an individual, yet a part of the whole forest. The individual trees will be selected for harvest with consideration of its species, state of health, age, relationship to its neighbors, and aspect and exposure to the sun. Every skill shall be employed to fell each individual with minimum damage to the surrounding, residual trees. These skills will be integrated with safety for the operator and training will be provided to teach these practices and methods.

The results of this work will be an improved forest in all respects, and a certified environmentally sensitively harvested Appalachian forest product. This will support the development of the marketing of a source differentiated identity forest product. This is socially responsible forest management. This is source sensitive extraction of natural resources. This will allow the environmentally concerned consumer an opportunity to support protecting the environment through their purchasing power. The Environmentally Sensitive Logging and Lumber Co., Inc will market such products under the trade name of Draftwood Products.

The ethical and humane treatment of the workstock employed to accomplish this low impact extraction is equal and integral to the sensitive concern for the environment in which they operate. Guidelines and standards of minimal treatment are included in the standards statement. Assistance to all practitioners is available and given. This includes the spirit which true animal “husbandry” implies metaphorically, that of being married to these wonderful creatures. We (humans and domesticated animals) are all working together for our economic and ecological survival within principals of planetary stewardship, as dedicated individuals working hard to do our tiny parts within the interconnected web of life. It is indeed in the best interest of the human forest stewardship practitioner to keep their animal workstock in the best condition possible, at all times.

We are dedicated to the concept that if you can show within local communities that taking care of their environment by practicing good stewardship will in turn take care of them, then everyone will have an understood and perceived place in protecting the forest around them. This is a natural selection method of timber harvesting by imitating nature in a complimentary way.

 

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