Institute for Sustainable Forestry
community economic development
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The Council's most recent effort:
Financing Sustainability -- A Case in Point
September 2006
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.
ISF’s Scopac valuation offers an example of the pressures facing timberland owners and managers throughout the north coast. Industrial and non-industrial owners alike are caught between increasing costs – both operational and regulatory – and log and lumber prices projected to remain relatively flat for the foreseeable future.
For more information: click here.
The Sustainable Forest Council was originally convened in 2003 to provide guidance for for a community planning session held in June 2004. The Council continues to meet.
Projects facilitated by ISF working with members of the Sustainable Forest Council include:
Future Forests on the North Coast Working Session
On October 27th 2005 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.
Presentations and background materials from the Future Forests working session can be downloaded here.
Community Planning Session at Beginnings
The documents prepared for the June 24th, 2004 planning session including the ISF State of Sustainability Report and the results of the session are available here: Beginnings Planning Session