ATFS Receives PEFC Endorsement

Washington, D.C.
- Family forest owners in the U.S., who own nearly two-thirds of the country's forestlands, today cheered the international approval of the American Tree Farm System® (ATFS) by the

Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification schemes (PEFC). PEFC is an international, independent, non-profit, non-governmental organization, founded in 1999 which promotes sustainably managed forests through independent third party certification. ATFS is the oldest and largest forest conservation, certification, and advocacy program in the United States. The 67 year-old program is sponsored by the American Forest Foundation.

Family forest landowners welcomed the endorsement by PEFC for certifying sustainably produced wood, a step that will open the door to new green markets for wood that is sustainably produced on their land. The Geneva-based Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification schemes (PEFC) made the announcement after a 14-month rigorous review designed to provide assurance to purchasers that certified wood and paper products are in fact produced from sustainably managed forests.

For some U.S. companies like NewPage Corporation whose North American operations include a mill in Rumford, Maine, this change could not come soon enough. "We sorely needed this endorsement in order to satisfy our customers who are demanding that our pulp and paper come from certified forest operations," said Tony Lyons, Director of Fiber Supply at the NewPage Rumford Mill. He added that the market dynamics for sustainably produced wood have changed dramatically over just the last two years. "We can't meet the demand, and that's a shame when qualified forest owners are standing ready. This fixes that problem."

"This is fantastic news for conservation-minded family forest owners who are struggling to survive in tough economic times," said Laurence Wiseman, President and Chief Executive Officer of the American Forest Foundation, the parent group of ATFS. "PEFC approval is the key to connecting more of the good operators to the rapidly growing marketplace of green manufacturers, distributors, retailers and consumers."

Forest landowners who voluntarily commit the extra time and expense to produce wood sustainably under the ATFS system will now qualify for access to the international markets that they never had before. Traditional markets for U.S. wood have been shrinking as more foreign wood gains control into those markets, and Wiseman believes this endorsement step will help U.S. growers.

The United States is permanently losing 1.5 million acres per year of family forestland to development. Many people mistakenly assume that forestland they see is owned by either the government or large paper companies, when in fact 60 percent of all the wood harvested in the U.S. actually comes from family forestlands. For many of these small forest landowners, achieving some economic return on their property is essential if they are to avoid the pressures of development.

Jo Pierce is a sixth-generation family forest owner in Cumberland County, Maine who walks the talk. Not only does he spend much of his time teaching other landowners how to manage their forest sustainably, his own operation won the national ATFS Tree Farmer of the Year award in 2007 for his conservation practices. A pioneer in this area whose grandmother first enrolled the family's forestland in the volunteer ATFS program in the 1960's, Jo credits his great, great grandfather who reportedly once said "Take care of the land first, and it will take care of you."

By using selective thinning and other conservation practices, the Pierce family has both earned an income and protected black bear, bobcats, moose, red-tailed hawks and other wildlife. He and his wife Cathy even took steps to re-introduce wild turkeys on the land. A wild island on their land has been reserved for wilderness canoeists. "I was brought up to love this land its plants and its wildlife," Jo Pierce said. "It's a legacy for all our family that Kathy and I have been blessed with and that we want to continue. Certification lets everyone know that we take care of our land properly." He added, "We are lucky. So many people don't have a special place that gives them roots."

Many communities depend on private forests to provide benefits including water purification, clean air, recreation, wildlife habitat and education. Eighty percent of all rain that falls east of the Mississippi River falls on family-owned forests where it is purified, stored, and released into aquifers.

"By joining the largest forest certification system in the world, the American Tree Farm System is creating new markets for American growers," said Ben Gunneberg, Secretary General of PEFC International. "The demand for sustainably-procured wood is rapidly increasing because more businesses and more consumers are stepping up to the plate on issues like climate change. PEFC endorsement means that more American growers can now serve this rapidly growing market. "

Only about 10 percent of the global wood market currently comes through forest certification systems. Now with ATFS, PEFC has 500 million certified acres. At this size and growing rapidly, PEFC is by far the largest global program for certifying sustainable forests. Canada, Norway, Finland, Spain, Brazil, the Malaysian Republic, and many other European countries are among those with PEFC-approved forest certification systems. This is the second such approval for the U.S., with the first being the Sustainable Forestry Initiative.

The American Tree Farm System was first launched in 1941 as a private initiative to address concerns that America's forests were being cut at unsustainable rates without reforestation. It now represents more than 90,000 family forest owners in 45 states, most of whom manage woodlots of less than 100 acres. ATFS is the largest private forest conservation and forest restoration initiative in the history of the U.S. "The number of certified family forests landowners in the system has doubled over the past four years, and this shows the tremendous growth potential in this area," said Bob Simpson, Senior Vice President for the American Forest Foundation.

For more information contact Bob Simpson, Senior Vice President, Forestry at 202.463.2458 or bsimpson@forestfoundation.org.

The American Tree Farm System (ATFS) is a national program of the Center for Family Forestry that promotes the sustainable management of forests through education and outreach to private forest landowners. Founded in 1941, ATFS has 23 million acres of privately owned forestland and 90,473 certified forest properties that exhibit excellence in forest stewardship. ATFS private forest landowners [Tree Farmers] manage their forestlands for wood, water, wildlife, and recreation with assistance from 4,400 volunteer foresters.

The American Forest Foundation (AFF) is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) conservation and education organization that strives to ensure the sustainability of America's family forests for present and future generations. Our vision is to create a future where North American forests are sustained by the public which understands and values the social, economic, and environmental benefits they provide to our communities, our nation, and our world.

Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification schemes(PEFC). PEFC is a framework for the assessment and endorsement of national forest certification systems that have been developed based on internationally recognized requirements for sustainable forest management. Since its launch in 1999, PEFC has become the largest forest certification umbrella organization covering national systems from all over the world, delivering hundreds of millions of tons of wood to the processing industry and then onto the market place from currently more than 200 million hectares of certified forests. This is an area which is larger than the combined forest area of all European Union member states. PEFC has strong grass roots support from many stakeholders including the forestry sector, governments, trade associations, trade unions and non-governmental organizations.

Copied from American Forest Foundation Newsletter

Managing Forest Vegetation

June 2008

There is a lot of work involved with properly managing your woodlot. Maintaining roads, controlling grape vines, timber stand improvement operations, etc. all require a strong commitment of time and resources from the landowner to make sure the tasks get done. One of the most important tasks is also one that is often overlooked or gets pushed to the bottom of list. That is controlling unwanted forest vegetation.

Often times people do not think of certain species as being unwanted. Unwanted forest vegetation can come in many forms. Many native plants of Pennsylvania can become unwanted vegetation in a forest setting. A few examples of native plants that can create forest management nightmares include: mountain laurel, ferns, striped maple, and even grasses. These are all native plants and can become a hindrance to forest regeneration if not controlled.

Mountain laurel can form very dense thickets that will shade any regeneration that may be attempting to grow on the forest floor. While this can provide some very good escape cover for animals like deer and grouse, it can become a real problem if forest regeneration is your goal. Striped maple grows very well in the shady understory conditions of forests and deer do not browse on it much. The result is an undesirable tree species with little wildlife value that shades out regeneration on the forest floor.

Ferns can be come a serious problem seemingly over night, especially if there has been a thinning operation in your forest. The hay-scented fern is the most common problem fern in Pennsylvania. This plant is not eaten by deer and not only spreads by spores but also by sending up fronds from their extensive root system causing it to spread even faster. These ferns can form a very dense cover virtually eliminating light from the forest floor and severely hindering regeneration.

There are many non-native invasive plant species as well. A few examples of these include: Ailanthus, Japanese barberry, multiflora rose, and mile-a-minute vine. There are many more non-native invasive plants invading Pennsylvania as well. As good stewards of the forest, attention should be given to these plants to prevent them from becoming a bigger problem than they already are.

If you do not currently have a problem with unwanted forest vegetation, your job will be a little easier. The key is to catch these invasive plants early and deal with them as soon as possible.

On a recent hunting trip to my property in Adams County, I found one Japanese barberry bush growing. On my next trip down I plan to make time to address that issue before it spreads any further. As is often the case, we found several plants on an adjacent property which is most likely where my plant came from. I will be notifying the foresters for that property and hopefully they will address the issue. The point is that I caught it early and it will be no problem getting rid of one plant.

Educate yourself on properly identifying these plants. This can seem like a daunting task when you look at the list of invasive plants in Pennsylvania. Familiarize yourself with a few of the more common plants first. Multiflora rose, ailanthus, Japanese barberry, Russian olive, etc may be a good place to start.

More importantly is to get to know your woods intimately. Take the time to learn how to identify the plants that are currently on your property. When something different shows up make the effort to properly ID that plant as well. If it turns out to be an invasive plant, you will have caught it early.

If you find out you have a major problem with an invasive plant, you will have more work and possibly money involved to alleviate the problem. You may not be able to get rid of it all in one season. You may need to hire professional help to get rid of the problem but it will be worth the time and effort for the long term health of your woods. Applying herbicides is one way to effectively control a large outbreak of unwanted plant species.

Here are a few guidelines to be considered when using herbicides.

1. Make sure you have the proper license to apply the chemical if it is needed.

2. Use the herbicide that is most effective at controlling the target species.

3. Use the herbicide at the lowest labeled rate that will give optimum control.

4. Follow prescribed application methods on label.

5. Apply herbicide at optimum time of year.

6. Follow all label precautions.

Be patient; allow time for the herbicide to work. Results may not be evident until the following growing season.

Penn State has a publication titled “Herbicide and Forest Management: Controlling unwanted trees, Brush, and Other Competing Forest Vegetation”. It provides information on choosing the right forestry herbicide and application methods as well as safety considerations that must be taken into account. You can get a copy by contacting your local extension office. Penn State also has a forest vegetation management website that contains a wealth of information and links to many other sources of information. That website is: http://fvm.cas.psu.edu/

For a list of the many invasive species in Pennsylvania go to the following DCNR web page: http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/forestry/invasivetutorial/List.htm. This web page includes recommendations for control as well as fact sheets with pictures of the plants to help with identification.

By Scott Weikert Forest County Extension Educator

Chain Saw Safety: Choose Well, Prepare Well, Use Well

It may not be lions, tigers and bears one needs to have a healthy fear of when venturing out to the forests and fields to harvest wood. Folks create their own dangers with inappropriate use of chain saws and tractors for cutting, pulling, and hauling. There are plenty of dangers associated with chain saws and tractors. To truly commit to not risking your own limbs and life or anyone else’s, read equipment manuals. In the mean time, here are some reminders.

Chain saws are grouped into three general sizes based on the weight and the length of the guidebar (the guide tract for the cutting chain). If felling trees 12 to 18 inches in diameter and cutting logs, choose a mid-weight saw with a guide bar of 14 – 20 inches. Make sure it feels balanced in your hands. It should go without saying (but it seems we have to anyway) that choosing a saw with all the safety features (and maintaining them) is in everyone’s best interests. A blue label on newer chain saws indicates that they meet low kickback standards.

Choosing a good saw is not the only choice to make. Buy and use good personal protective equipment as well. There are pants, chaps, gloves and boots made with chain saw protective fabric. Steel-toed boots are a must. Non-skid material is useful on the bottom of boots as well as on the palms of the gloves. Complete your gear with a hardhat, safety glasses with side shields and earplugs or muffs (unless using an electric saw), and you are set to go.

Actually, you are set to go only if you have properly prepared the saw and the site. A smooth running saw is a safer saw. Maintain, maintain, maintain. Most machines need to be well lubricated to run well. Know if your chain saw has an automatic oiler and how to use it. Never use reclaimed oil as it doesn’t lubricate well and corrodes the pump. Loose chains fall off; tight chains bind and over heat. Dull chains make a burned smell, crooked cuts and sawdust rather than chips. Learn how to correctly sharpen the saw and carry extra chains into the field. While you are preparing for the field, think about what to take with you beside lunch. A good first aid kit, tool kit, and fire extinguisher are important.

Preparing at the site entails looking for the hazards. Attached vines, leaning trees, young trees pinned by a fallen tree (these can spring when the weight is released), obstacles in the area if you have to get out of the way, utility lines, and heavy branches in the crown are just the beginning. Dead trees lack structural integrity causing pieces to break off. Examine any tree under pressure to get a fix on the direction of that pressure. With care, you can make small cuts to release pressure in a section. “Widow-maker” isn’t just a quaint and clever term for dead branches in the crown of a tree; these pose real danger. Finally, you may need to check for nails and wire in some trees to avoid kickback. Preplan an escape route that is 45 degrees from the direction of the falling tree with no hazards in your path. Have any other people move to at least two tree lengths distance away before you cut.

Always carry the chain saw with the engine turned off. Start it with two hands on the ground. Do not “drop start” a chain saw as you can not maintain control of the machine.

Keep your cuts below shoulder height; it is too difficult to keep full control of the machine with it raised high Working with sharp implements sometimes seems to dull one’s commonsense— otherwise folks wouldn’t stand on the log they are cutting, hold the chainsaw between their legs to make a cut, or straddle limbs while making a cut. Always stand completely to the side of where you are cutting.

The kickback from a chain saw can cut through skin, muscle, and bone, in a matter of seconds, enough to put you in the hospital or the morgue. Kick back is caused when the tip of the guide bar touches an object, by incorrectly starting a bore cut by using the tip of the saw, when the blade nose or tip catches the bottom or side of a saw cut during reinsertion, and when a chain saw gets pinched while cutting. While tip guards, chainbreaks and kickback guards are valuable in controlling kickback, the most important precaution is to know how to use the saw correctly and to take your time.

Tractors in the Woods

Gathering wood might seem like an ideal time for using that old tractor without a ROPS (rollover protection structure) and poorly adjusted brakes. But it’s not! Every year we have one or more fatalities in Pennsylvania involving a tractor in the woods. Trees or large limbs have crushed operators sitting in the tractor seat because the operator was trying to pull or push a tree, tractors have gone out of control while descending hills and slopes because of poor brakes, and tractors have flipped over backwards while pulling a tree down or dragging logs that catch and stop moving. If you have to use a farm tractor in the woods, it should have an enclosed ROPS cab, and safety practices such as using a seat belt, hitching only to the drawbar, and no extra riders should be strictly followed.

Trail Systems

A Trail System opens a woodland to many recreational opportunities. Crosscountry skiing, hiking, nature observation, hunting, snowmobiling, horseback riding, bicycling, and quiet reflection are only a few of the possibilities. Trails also provide the access needed to monitor woodland conditions and identify management problems, helping you lay the foundation for long-term woodland stewardship.

Trails should be constructed in a manner that will enhance the user’s outdoor experience while protecting the property’s environmental health. Trail design and construction require planning. The following steps can be used to complete a successful trail-building project.

Step 1. Decide the Trail’s Purpose

Different recreational activities require different trail designs. Besides recreation, a trail also may provide access for fire protection, timber harvesting, wildlife viewing and other woodland activities.

The extent to which trail uses can be mixed depends on objectives, the number of users, and the type of activity. Some activities, such as snowmobiling and humps, and fill holes. Gravel or other fill materials may be used to elevate the trail in wet areas. As an option, a 3–to 6-inch layer of woodchips, shredded bark, or sawdust can increase hiking comfort and reduce soil compaction. These materials often can be obtained at little or no cost from local utility companies, yard waste recycling centers, and sawmills.

However, they tend to decay quickly in a shaded environment and must be replaced at least every two years. Woodchips also can interfere with water drainage and may wash off slopes that exceed a 5 percent grade.

Vegetative coverings, such as grasses and legumes, should be favored because they reduce soil compaction and erosion and help retain snow coverings on cross-country skiing and snowmobiling trails. With periodic resting periods, vegetation recovers well from heavy use. Species selection varies widely depending on the amount of light and type of soil. Generally it is best to plant a mixture of species.

Step 2. Inventory the Property

Examine the project area for natural and constructed features that will enhance or detract from the trail user’s experience. They can be used to identify key places that the trail should connect and fragile areas that should be avoided or that will require extra care. Also note the location of existing roads and trails that might be incorporated into the trail design. Gather this information on a map of the property drawn approximately to scale.

Step 3. Design the Trail

Develop design specifications for the trail based on its intended use. Determine the trail pattern and approximate length, maximum grade and curve radius, and minimum overhead clearance and width standards. Carefully examine the area for routes between points of interest. Identify potential trail-use hazards or construction problems, including lakes and streams, motorized roadway intersections, and soils that are erodible or poorly drained.

Vary trail patterns to fit the trail’s purpose and the property’s physical attributes. Try to develop a trail pattern that connects points of interest in a closed loop design with a single access point. Loop patterns avoid the backtracking requirement of linear trails and allow you to incorporate more trail miles into a small area. Use linear trails when traversing long distances and connecting existing trails.

Step 4. Scout the Trail Corridor

Walk the proposed trail corridor in both directions using a compass and map. Identify potential problems (e.g., steep slopes, water and motorized road crossings, wet soils, rock outcrops) and develop solutions. In late spring, when the leaves are off the trees and the ground is free of snow, examine trail drainage and vegetative screening between trails.

A trail that follows natural contours, gently curving and bending around obstacles, and that disturbs the site as little as possible, is aesthetically pleasing and more enjoyable to travel. Once the final location has been determined, mark the route with brightly colored plastic flagging tape.

Step 5. Clear the Trail

Begin construction by removing trees, brush and rocks from the tread. Establish a trail clearance width and height according to the intended use. Cut shrubs and small trees flush with the ground to prevent tripping and to reduce stump sprouting. Avoid cutting healthy trees larger than 6 inches stem diameter. Some trees may require chemical stump treatments to prevent re-sprouting. Prune overhanging branches cleanly at the branch collar on the tree trunk or where a branch forks. Remove large rocks and fallen logs from the trail, unless they are to be kept as obstacles to prevent motorized use. Scatter branches and other debris off the trail or pile it for wildlife cover.

Step 6. Construct the Trail Thread

For most trails, the ideal surface is a natural soil free of stones, stumps, and protruding roots. Natural trails often become easily distinguishable and comfortable to walk after a month of regular traffic. Level cross-country skiing, require separate trails. Other activities are compatible on the same trail or occur in different seasons.

Step 7. Mark the Trail

Once constructed, a trail should be marked so that its route is clear in any season of the year. Trail markers may be paint blazes, plastic or metal markers fastened to trees, wooden posts with directional arrows, or reflective tape for night use. As a rule, trail users should not travel more than 600 feet without being able to see a trail marker or sign.

Excerpted from a publication titled “Recreational Trail Design and Construction,” by the Minnesota Extension Service, University of Minnesota. This full publication is available at the University of Minnesota, Distribution Center, Room 20 Coffey Hall, 1420 Eckles Ave., St. Paul, MN 55108-6069. Fax: (612)625- 2207.

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Top Ten Timber Harvesting Mistakes
By Dan Snyder, DCNR Bureau of Forestry

#1 Diameter Limit Cutting (High Grading)!
Diameter limit harvests (i.e., cutting all trees above a set diameter) are common because they provide an easy way to describe trees for cutting. Because they tend to remove the larger, more valuable trees, they also provide a high (albeit one-time) economic gain. Diameter limit harvests are a form of high-grading that “takes the best and leaves the rest.” Cutting using these approaches is particularly damaging in the hardwood-dominated forests like those in Pennsylvania. Diameter limit cutting seems to make sense as way to remove the larger “older” trees, and leave the smaller “younger” trees to grow. However, in even-aged stands (which we have a lot of in Pennsylvania due to historic cutting patterns), the smaller trees are not necessarily younger, just slower growing. Frequently these smaller trees are genetically inferior, damaged, or less vigorous species. They are often not the trees you want growing into the next generation. For example: a suppressed hemlock sapling, one inch in diameter, may be 60-80 years old. A healthy black cherry, 16 inches in diameter, may be the same age. Which “young” tree do you want left growing in your woods?

#2 No management plan!
A forest management plan can supply you with the information you need to make sound forest management decisions. Plans vary in detail, ranging from very detailed plans to short and concise. The Pennsylvania Forest Stewardship Program can provide cost-share support for you to develop a plan. You must have at least five acres or less than 1,000 acres of forestland. Waivers for larger owners (up to 5,000 acres) are available through the USDA Forest Service. Developing a plan with the assistance of a Bureau of Forestry service forester and at least one Forest Stewardshiptrained natural resource professional will help you learn about your forest’s resources and how you can maintain and improve them. You can learn how to manage for wildlife, recreation, aesthetics, or timber production. At a minimum, your management plan should contain detailed property descriptions (including property history), map(s), and management activity prescriptions specific for your property. Only after a careful review and analysis of your property can you make sustainable decisions about managing or selling your trees. NEVER be pressured into making quick cutting choices. From a tree’s perspective, there is usually no rush to make a quick decision.

#3 Not using a forester to represent the landowner!
Studies show that 80% of the timber harvests on private forests do not involve a forester representing the forest owner in the sale. Failure to involve a forester in your timber sale decisions can have consequences. Often times, the decision can result in less income and potentially unsustainable outcomes.

Consulting foresters representing the landowner work for a fee, and studies show that they can increase sale income by marking and marketing your trees – their services can greatly help simplify timber selling. A professional forester’s knowledge can help to retain or improve your woodland’s productivity, as well as maintain wildlife habitats, and control erosion by planning logging road and trail layout.

#4 Trees to be sold are not marked! Marking the trees you want to sell or retain would seem like an obvious step in selling timber. Surprisingly, many sales occur without marking or a clear understanding of which trees will be cut. Setting a diameter limit, as discussed in #1 above, is not a good way to designate trees to cut. Without a clear understanding of what to take or leave, it is nearly impossible to establish a fair price, as you have no way of knowing how much volume, and thus value, you are selling. A timber harvesting plan and the resulting prospectus advertising trees for sale should indicate the species, diameter, and number of 16-foot logs offered. This information allows prospective buyers to estimate the timber volume for sale and make appropriate bids.

#5 No knowledge of timber value! Unless you are intimately acquainted with timber markets (both overseas and domestic), with experience in timber scaling, including defect estimation, it is very unlikely you can estimate the value of your standing timber yourself. Timber prices vary with furniture, housing, and overseas markets. In addition, it is unlikely that many forest owners can understand logging costs, access issues, and local competition for standing timber. A professional forester will be your biggest ally in determining timber value.

#6 No competitive bidding! If you talk to only one person about selling your timber, will you know whether or not you are getting a true representation of value? Studies show that knowing what you have to sell and offering it through a competitive bidding process will often secure the best price. Who would sell a house or car without knowing the value and trying to find the buyer willing to pay the price? Taking the time to find the right buyer can pay dividends. If people are approaching you to buy, you likely have something to sell.

#7 No erosion and sedimentation plan or provisions! In Pennsylvania, all earthmoving or earth disturbing activities must have an Erosion and Sedimentation (E&S) Control Plan. By law the plan must be implemented and effective. Soil cannot leave the property. Ultimately landowners have the responsibility to ensure that activities on their property do not degrade water quality.

An E&S plan must identify threats to water quality and describe specific steps to address these issues. As part of the timber sale contract, responsibility for developing and implementing the E&S Plan can be transferred to the buyer. The buyer, the landowner, or a designee can prepare the plan.

#8 Selling on “percentage” or “shares” (For example, 50/50 or 60/40)! Unless you or your designee can follow every truckload of logs that leaves your property, and can assure that the buyer tallies and pays for the volume, you are at risk. Ideally, you should know what you are selling, bid it competitively, and receive payment before cutting any trees. However, there may be tax advantages to retaining economic interest in your trees until they are cut and removed from the property. Check with your forester or tax advisor about this tax issue.

#9 No reimbursement for excessive timber damage! Your contract with the buyer should clearly state penalties for excessive damage to standing residual trees and other property. It is often a good idea to require a performance deposit to ensure that contract terms and requirements are met. The performance deposit is a payment over and above the selling price, held in escrow until sale termination. A certain amount of residual stand damage is to be expected during the harvest. Trained and responsible loggers will take care to minimize such damage.

#10 No contract! A contract is one of the most important elements leading to a successful and profitable timber sale. The contract describes the who, what, where, when, how, and for how long language relating to your sale. The contract does not have to be long or technical, merely thorough and accurate. The contract should name the seller, the buyer, the location of the sale, how much is sold, and the length of the agreement. It should cover the seller’s responsibilities such as guarantee of ownership, rightof- way across the property to the buyer and his agents, and a clause for changing the contract elements if the modification does not alter the basic principles of the contract. The buyer’s responsibilities are more involved and include: payment schedule, excessive residual stand damage penalties, fire protection (prevention and suppression), repair to existing fences damaged during the harvest, bridges, culverts, and roads, operating sequence, performance deposit, road construction, landing construction, voluntary shut down, mandatory shut down, and implementation of the Erosion and Sedimentation Control Plan. Landowners must also realize that should they instruct the buyer to leave stream crossing measures in place, they (the landowners) are responsible for the maintenance and upkeep.

Things to Remember When Selling Your Timber
Don’t be hasty to sell your timber. Take the time to collect and analyze as much information as you can. As far as trees are concerned there is usually no rush to make a quick decision, so don’t be pressured into doing so. Know what you are selling, bid it out to determine the market value, and negotiate a contract that protects your interests.

The Pennsylvania Bureau of Forestry has field offices responsible for all of Pennsylvania. Service Foresters can offer advice about selling your timber, and provide additional information. They cannot, except in uncommon circumstances, mark your timber.

If you have timber you want to sell, consider contacting a consulting forester. These professional foresters will help you determine your objectives and mark timber in accordance with your objectives. They have experience, lists of potential buyers, and can negotiate and prepare a good sale contract. Consulting foresters most often work on a commission when selling timber.

One last thought, when you are selling timber, you want the best advice you can obtain, and you can benefit by having a representative concerned about your objectives and the longterm sustainability of your forest working with you.

Taken from Summer 2007 Forest Leaves.