It’s an effort to educate the forest products industry, loggers, and the public about the best possible approaches to handle their timber harvests. It stresses the importance of stewardship, and the knowledge that what we do effects other, the need to follow strict harvesting guidelines throughout the process , and the importance of replanting harvested sites.

Through this licensing agreement, we are held accountable to follow the directives of the SFI sm program. Failure to comply would result in the loss of the license. We are presently pursuing a third party certification, by an independent auditor, to prove the efforts we’ve made are not just hollow promises.

The benefits to the community are many. By enhancing wildlife habitat, we ensure progress in rehabilitating endangered species; we also increase the recreation aspects of game hunting. Following Streamside Management Zone guidelines helps keep our Mississippi waters clear of silt and debris, and that helps all the way from local streams to the Gulf of Mexico. Harvesting and replanting with more vigorous trees, traps more carbon from the atmosphere than would an over-mature forest, if left standing. Fast growing trees do much to rid our atmosphere of "greenhouse gases". Taking out detrimental bug infested trees which threaten the forest helps prevent rampant wildfires due to excessive fuel buildup.

Timber is our greatest resource. It is easily renewable in almost any locale under many conditions. The number of uses for timber is staggering. In a simple sawmill such as ours, every part of the log is used. Lumber is made from the solid wood, mulch is made from the bark, waste chips are used to make paper and tissue, planer shavings are used to make particle board or for animal bedding, and sawdust is used as fuel to produce steam to dry the lumber. As long as there is a business like ours in the community, trees will have value.

By working together with our industrial partners, environmental conservation groups, and private individuals, we can make this process work. We can utilize this wonderful renewable resource, and always have a new supply growing for tomorrow.

Please look at the link for SFI sm program under links.

*Franklin Timber Company is a participant in the AF&PA's Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) sm Program.  AF&PA's Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) sm Program is an 11-point commitment addressing reforestation, water quality protection, wildlife conservation, visual quality, biological diversity and efficient use of forest resources.  For further information, on the SFI sm program, please check the AF&PA website at www.afandpa.org.

Growing Tomorrow's Forest Today ®