What is Sustainable Forestry?
A recent Washington Post article succinctly illustrates the difference between sustainable forestry and unsustainable forestry. Timber from tropical forests in Papua New Guinea, Myanmar, Indonesia, Africa and Brazil, as well as virgin forests in Siberia and Russia’s Far East are being cut down and sent across the world to feed China’s wood products factories. Once manufactured, these products are then shipped around the world again to retailers like IKEA and Wal-Mart in North America. In contrast, Vermont Family Forests (based in Bristol, VSJF grant recipient in 1998 and 1999) offers shares of the Little Hogback Community Forest–held in easement by the Vermont Land Trust–to Addison County residents. Fifty percent of the shares are reserved for community members with below median incomes. Harvests from Little Hogback are used in VFF’s line of Forest Stewardship Council-certified flooring that is currently sold at Planet Hardwood in St. George.
Snapshot of the Global Wood-Processing Industry
The theory of comparative advantage holds that countries that can produce a good or service cheaply can benefit by trading with other nations. A Chinese flooring product can be purchased at Planet Hardwood for $3.79 per square foot, sanded and finished. VFF’s line of flooring products ranges from $3.64 to $4.07 per square foot, unfinished (Finishing usually doubles the price). But what if the cheapness of Chinese wood products masks social and ecological costs that are not captured by such measures as Gross National Product? The Washington Post article describes how severe deforestation is eliminating habitat for many species, destroying the ability of forests to act as carbon sinks and, ultimately, how bad or non-existent forest management practices are threatening the livelihoods of the very people that currently depend on these forests. Additionally, the increasing cost of petroleum diminishes the long-term prospects of long distance transportation.
VFF’s approach, on the other hand, adheres to principles of sustainable development by: 1) ensuring that their forests–and the services their forests provide–will be sustained in perpetuity, 2) promoting equity within Addison County, 3) and integrating ecological concern throughout the supply chain.
Amortized over a 30-year mortgage, VFF’s flooring costs $20 more per month* than the Chinese product, but that is only because the Chinese product does not include its true social and ecological costs. Additionally, the multiplier for purchases** of local VFF products equals over $9.1 million, including $2 million in wages for 66 jobs in finishing, millwork, logging, and forestry.
* Based on 1,000 square feet per unit.
** Based on an assumption that VFF sells 500,000 sq. feet per year.
*** U.S. Commerce Department multipliers. Figures include direct, indirect, and induced economic activity.
Photo Credits: Forest (left), Wayne Fawbush; Ben Machin marking a tree (middle), Redstart Forestry; Library furniture (right), Beeken Parsons.
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