Markets for Wood Products

Submitted: The Two Sides Team October 29, 2013

Wood products, including products from American Tree Farm System (ATFS)-certified lands (a program of AFF), will now be given a fair shot by the General Services Administration (GSA).

via American Forest Foundation – October 25, 2013

Traditional forest product markets are at an all time low, meaning forest owners are making less money to reinvest back into their land. Forests provide myriad public benefits: clean air, clean water, wildlife habitat, places to recreate, and the wood products we all use every day. Without revenue to maintain healthy and productive forests, many of those public benefits we all enjoy may cease to exist.

Problems with Existing Green Markets

Green Building

Public policies are developing at the federal, state and local level, encouraging the use of green building rating systems. While this is certainly a step in the right direction for sustainability, existing policies put wood–an environmentally responsible material–at a real disadvantage.

On the other hand, these policies could help keep family-owned forests with a commitment to utilize high environmental standards. However, if these policies are structured to discourage the use of wood products, particularly from ATFS-certified forests, family forest owners will be unable to access these growing markets, potentially foregoing added income important for helping families stay on the land and keep their land forested.

Non-traditional forest product markets

Increasing consumer demand for "green," or environmentally responsible, products is rapidly
increasing. Wood is one of the most environmentally friendly materials, as it is both renewable and plentiful. Currently, green promotional programs, such as the USDA Biobased Markets Program, exclude the use of forest products, and instead, promote biobased products that are imported from other countries and at great distances

Healthy forests provide critical public benefits, inluding clean air and water and wildlife habitat. Although a relatively new phenomena, AFF is working to ensure family forest owners are included in these potential markets, as they are the largest forest ownership group in the U.S. Ecosystem Services Markets.

Forest Market Policy Priorities

AFF supports public and private sector policies that help forest owners keep their forests healthy and productive. We work to strengthen markets for wood products by encouraging the use of forest products produced from American Tree Farm System-certified lands, which flows into the Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) Chain of Custody system. The SFI market signal provides customers with assurance that the products they purchase are sustainable.

AFF also supports policies that enable landowners to participate in non-traditional forest products markets, giving them a seat at the table in renewable energy, ecosystem services markets, and habitat credit schemes for endangered species.

AFF will continue to work to:

Include & Encourage Wood Products

Support green procurement and green building policies that encourages the use of wood products from ATFS-certified family forests.

Provide New Market Opportunities

In addition to support for traditional markets, AFF supports on the ground programs, dedicated to developing new market opportunities for landowners.

Additional information is available in the AFF Board approved policy brief

For more information on this policy issue please contact Melissa Moeller, mmoeller@forestfoundation.org.