From green foundations

Summary
• The area and volume of the eastern hardwood forest has been expanding for the past 50 years.
• Forest cover increased by 15% between 1997-2007.
• Wisconsin has the world’s largest FSC group certification.
• The industry is focusing on timber in green building programmes.

The American hardwood industry has a solid history of commitment to responsible forest management. We know from the comprehensive forest inventories undertaken by the Forest Service every 10 years that, despite population growth, suburbanisation, forest fragmentation and increased global demand for our forests’ products, both the area and the volume of the eastern hardwood forest has been expanding for the past 50 years, with growing stock of hardwood timber more than doubling in this time.

Data for the 2010 report indicates this remarkable growth has continued, increasing by 15% between 1997-2007 – a time when production and consumption were at peak levels. Both the industry and the country should be proud of this record and also grateful that we are blessed with one of the earth’s most resilient wood baskets.

Many areas in New England, where I live, we are harvesting the fourth or fifth mature forest since our ancestors arrived in the 17th century. It always amazes visitors that 100 years ago a state like New Hampshire, now 83% forested, had less than 50% tree cover.

Alongside this ethic of forest stewardship and pride in our outstanding forest resource, the US hardwood industry is committed to becoming an increasingly significant supplier to the world's markets. Increasing our exports, especially in Europe, means working hard to reassure all markets that our wood is both legal and sustainable.

Forest ownership

Despite the significant challenges of fragmentation of forest ownership, the US hardwood industry has been working hard to expand the volume of certified wood available. It is satisfying for companies that have been involved in certification for many years (mine has been FSC certified since 1996) to see how more open-minded many primary processors and landowners have become.

However, it’s important for Europe to be reminded that there are over 4 million landowners in the eastern hardwood-producing region, many with 10 acres or fewer. Many woodlots are only harvested once in a generation so the landowner has little incentive to pursue certification. Unlike in Europe, we don't have many co-operatives or forestry associations that make logical conduits for group or regional certifications.

There are some great stories of progress in overcoming these issues. Wisconsin now has the world's largest FSC group certification system. Its Managed Forest Law programme covers over 2 million acres comprising 41,000 parcels and thousands of landowners. This model, which provides tax benefits and technical assistance, including help with management plans, to participants in exchange for landowners’ commitments to long-term sustainable forest management, is being looked at by other states. There has also been a substantial increase in the number of chain of custody certificates (primarily FSC) amongst distributors, exporters and some manufacturers.

Although great progress has been made, it will take time to increase forest owners’ awareness of the benefits of certification and to develop the new systems (more affordable management plans, chain of custody systems) that are appropriate for these ownerships. The reality is that less than 1% of family forest owners are currently part of group certification schemes.

In the Hardwood Review survey (November 2009) two-thirds of certified US companies reported that certified wood accounted for less than 5% of their purchases or sales. So despite progress and some real economic incentives, the supply of certified wood remains small.

Raising environmental awareness

In the meantime, the hardwood industry has been working to raise the level of understanding of environmental issues – both internally and with policy makers.

The Hardwood Federation worked closely with green groups to help pass the 2008 amendment to the Lacey Act, which gives the Department of Justice power to prosecute US companies caught in the possession of wood harvested or traded illegally in any other country.

The American Hardwood Export Council (AHEC) has also been heavily involved in deliberations on the proposed legal requirements for due diligence systems in the EU. AHEC has promoted a risk-based approach in this legislation so that limited resources are targeted on suppliers that are high risk on illegal logging while no unnecessary controls (costly with no improvement in forest management) are imposed on low-risk suppliers.

AHEC has led the way to develop credible risk assessment procedures. The AHEC-commissioned report “An Assessment of Lawful Harvesting and Sustainability of US Hardwood Exports” by Seneca Creek Associates provides independent and peer-reviewed evidence that there is less than 1% chance of any American hardwood being derived from an illegal source. The study provides a model for forest operators in other regions with good forest governance looking for a cost-effective mechanism to demonstrate low risk of illegal logging.

Green building programmes

A key issue now is the positioning of US hardwoods, and sustainable wood in general, in green building programmes, both domestically and around the world. Hardwood products listed in the BRE Green Guide in the UK, particularly solid hardwood flooring and windows, are given the highest A+ rating. AHEC in Europe and the Hardwood Federation in the US are working to ensure that these environmental credentials are given full market recognition. We need more data on the environmental life cycle impact and carbon footprint of US hardwood products, particularly those made and used in Europe, and AHEC has commissioned the most comprehensive life cycle assessment ever undertaken in the sector, with interim data expected by the end of the year.

Our industry has recognised the importance of promoting our green credentials and working with companies selling into green markets. We need to work closely with policy makers and the green community to put our hardwood resource on top of the green building materials list.