Planting Tomorrow’s Forests Today

March 21 is the International Day of Forests and World Wood Day. West Fraser commemorates this day by reflecting on best forestry practices, such as sustainable forest management principles, which guide the company’s land management and wood procurement practices. 

To mark International Day of Forests and World Wood Day, we are shining a spotlight on our U.S. Sustainable Forestry Fiber Sourcing Program.

Responsible stewardship is the hallmark of a working forest. That means managing the forest land base for a range of ecosystem values including biodiversity and watershed protection, as well as a renewable source of timber.
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“Through our U.S. Sustainable Forestry Fiber Sourcing Program, we help ensure U.S. landowners, upon whom we rely for fibre, have the resources they need to maintain healthy and productive forests into the future.”
‍_{Travis Oldershaw, Director, U.S. Wood Procurement}

As part of the program, West Fraser also provides seedlings directly to some of the smaller landowners and timber providers.

“When we started 20 years ago, the program was a fraction of the size it is today—100,000 seedlings in the Huguley area—for landowners with small operations that feed our mill,” said Scott Smith, Huguley OSB Procurement Manager. “Now the program has expanded to eight mills with approximately 1.3 million seedlings to be planted this year. By helping our landowners in their reforestation efforts, we contribute to working forests while also building a relationship with these local landowners and wood suppliers, connecting them to our mills.”

The program entails seedlings being dropped off by West Fraser employees together with the qualifying landowner’s log broker, approximately a year following harvest. The seedling delivery provides West Fraser team members with an opportunity to strengthen their relationships with the landowners.  

These reforestation efforts help West Fraser meet its commitments under the 2022 Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) Fiber Sourcing Standard, which includes requirements around Community Involvement and Landowner Outreach.

Landowners are grateful for the support and for helping them preserve their family businesses. Excerpts from a letter recently received by Chris Gordy, Woodlands Manager, Joanna OSB, convey the gratitude of a landowner who recently purchased the land from other family members.
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“It has been quite a challenge to figure out the land payments and the reforestation. Your forest stewardship efforts have made all of this easier... Our family lands are only three miles from your mill and we have sent many tons of wood to the mill over the years. I just wanted you and the company to know the extent and meaning of your generosity and forest stewardship efforts.”
‍_{Joanna, South Carolina, landowner impacted by West Fraser's Landowner Outreach program}

As a result of the program, approximately 1,968 acres of forest will be planted this year, which is equivalent to the area covered by approximately 1,500 professional football fields. 

“We are now receiving logs at the mill that started as seedlings provided when this program started in 2003. As a forester, I find it incredibly rewarding to be part of the sustainability cycle of our operations, the local economy and the environment,” said Scott.