Timber for Tomorrow

The Sustainable Forest and the New Forest Economy is three, 20 minute programs written by Ray Travers, professional forester and Chair of the Eco-forestry Institute Society, and award-winning filmmaker, Edward Homer. The three part series is a practical guide for anyone interested in sustainable forestry, eco-certification and marketing of eco-certified wood products: from the forest to the finished product. Part One: "The Sustainable Forest"-- looks at how all of the systems in the forest interact; soil, wildlife, and different types of trees. This first segment features Merve Wilkinson and his Wildwood Forest in BC, which is a fantastic example of the potential for selective logging. Also covered in this first segment: planning the road system, promoting, and using woodpeckers and birds for insect control and natural regeneration. Part Two: "Harvesting the Timber" -- looks at calculating the volume to be harvested in a selective forest as well as a second growth forest. This segment covers; criteria for selection, falling trees in a sustainable forest, skidding the trees with small skidders and horses with ecoforester, Bob Woods. Part Three: "Eco-Certification and the New Forest Economy"-- looks at Al Hopwood's woodlot, one of the first woodlots in Canada to be certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC). We tour Al's operation and he explains the FSC certification process and benefits. We follow the first shipment of eco-certified logs to Sarita Furniture in Port Alberni, BC, a value-added mill that is also certified by FSC.