Industry News Roundup

As We See It – Mature & Old-Growth: Defining Ambiguity

By Scott Dane

Ox-y-mo-ron: a figure of speech in which apparently contradictory terms appear in conjunction and are self-contradictory. Such as Responsible Government, in this case—Forest Management. Dane

Washington, DC has been described as embodying the best of Northern hospitality and Southern ingenuity. Not necessarily the epitome of functionality. On “Earth Day” President Biden signed an Executive Order directing the Forest Service and Department of Interior to “define, identify and complete an inventory of old-growth and mature forests on Federal lands.”

It is the “defining” of old-growth and mature timber where the concern should be for the forestry professionals and forest products industries. The variations in regions, species, management practices and numerous other factors create such a level of ambiguity (the quality of being open to more than one interpretation; inexactness) that it is impossible to define a single standard. Hence, defining the undefinable and the oxymoron—defining ambiguity. Regardless “Old-Growth” has been employed by antiforest management groups to obstruct forest management to the point of predisposing millions of acres to burn annually. All in the name of protecting the forests. Now throw “Mature Forests” into the equation.

The Climate Forests Coalition, a group of dozens of environmental organizations including Environment America, the National Resource Defense Council, the Center for Biological Diversity, and the Sierra Club prepared a report claiming that logging is the greatest threat to mature and old-growth forests.

The objective of this exercise in defining Old-Growth and Mature Forests is evident: further obstacles to federal forest management. Significant restrictions and limitations already exist regarding old-growth forests on federal land. The addition of the new category of “Mature Forests” opens a pandora’s box that would create a new weapon in the arsenal of regular legal challenges to federal forest management efforts.

“Commercial forests are often grown to maturity and then harvested before they reach old-growth status.” Len Montgomery, Environment America Public Lands Director

The irony of this statement is very revealing in that it would advocate that “mature” timber not be harvested in order to allow it to reach “oldgrowth” status, at which time it cannot be harvested either. This would suggest that timber should be harvested before it reaches maturity, which would be contrary to the position that mature timber is necessary to develop old-growth timber because, under that premise, immature timber must be protected to allow it to become mature timber and later old-growth timber. Hence, under the guise of oldgrowth and mature forest scrutiny, no timber harvest on public lands is the ultimate objective of opponents of professional forest management.

For a government that professes to follow the science, I would suggest that they consider silviculture. Generally, silviculture is the “science” and art of growing and cultivating forest crops, based on a knowledge of silvics (the study of the life history and general characteristics of forest trees and stands, with particular reference to local/regional factors). The focus of silviculture is the control, establishment, and management of forest stands. The primary benefits of silvicultural practices are: it produces abundant raw materials for the forest products industry; it increases forest cover, which is necessary for the conservation of wildlife; and it maintains a perfect water cycle in nature.

The practice of silvicultural-based forest management identifies the process as a stand that is tended, harvested, and re-established. Silviculture is a cycle that requires all aspects of the process to be completed. The harvest age class cycle is based on maturity, which varies from region and species.

The science of silviculture identifies the optimal point, and maturity, at which timber should be harvested. Mature trees are those that have reached their maximum product value, or the point where vigor, health

or growth are declining. Harvesting timber after the point of maturity renders dead, rotten and diseased forests that are prone to diminish the merchantable value.

Therefore, any consideration defining Mature Forests and Old-Growth Forests must be based on the science of silviculture and not an environmental agenda of no timber management or harvest. The latter is not scientifically based and is an obvious attempt at creating another false premise to obstruct science-based silviculture forest management practices.

“You must remember that the forest which contributes nothing to the wealth, progress, or safety of the country is of no interest to the government.”President Theodore Roosevelt, America’s “Conservation President,” 1903 speech to the Society of American Foresters, the USDA and the DOI.

This is an exercise in semantics that will accomplish nothing positive toward the forest management goals and objectives of the United States. Implementation of language defining “Mature Forests” will, on the contrary, create forests which contribute nothing to the wealth, progress or safety of the country, and should be of no interest to the government.

In conclusion, if the USDA/USFS and DOI were to dangerously attempt to define “Mature Forests” without basing it on the facts and science, it is merely a pandering exercise in futility that would contribute nothing to the objective of improving forest health and reducing wildfires by forest professionals, but instead would result in another obstruction to federal forest management objectives and healthy forests.

Scott Dane is Executive Director of the American Loggers Council. ALC is a 501(c)(6) trade association representing the interests of timber harvesting and timber hauling businesses across the

United States. For more information visit www.amloggers.com.

Peak Renewables Plans Pellet Facility

Canadian-based Peak Renewables plans to build a 180,000 metric tons per year wood pellet mill in Dothan, Ala. The $30 million project will utilize residuals from Rex Lumber sawmills in the area.

Construction on the facility is expected to be completed by mid2023. Peak is building the plant adjacent the SmartLam cross laminated timber plant in Dothan.

SmartLam recently announced it will add a $50 million glulam plant at its Dothan site. It will be capable of producing 84MMBF annually at full production.

Enviva Addresses Property Loss

Enviva Inc., announced the establishment of the Enviva Heirs Property Fund (EHPF), an initiative dedicated to ending involuntary land loss across the U.S. Southeast. Enviva has formally committed $250,000 on an annual basis to pro-

vide support to landowning families in the U.S. Southeast through direct financial support for professional services, identifying pathways for families to capture sustainable land value, and through public policy ad vocacy at the state and federal levels.

EHPF’s efforts will begin in 2022 in Mississippi and North Carolina, and will expand to include direct financial aid to landholders incrementally throughout Enviva’s operational footprint in the coming years, in addition to the national policy work currently underway.

The issue of heirs property predominantly affects Southern black landholders, and has been a significant driver of black land loss over the last century. The Federation of Southern Cooperatives, a non-profit association of black farmers, landowners and cooperatives, estimates that 60% of African American-owned land in the South is held as heirs property, and from 1910 to 2007 it is estimated that black farmers lost approximately 80% of their land, from about 20 million acres to about 1.9 million acres today.

To eliminate the systemic hurdles resulting in involuntary land loss, the Fund will act on the following three functions for landowners: l Achieve Clear Title: Assist land owning families in achieving clear title to their land, thus removing the land from being vulnerable to involuntary loss. EHPF will connect families with the professional services necessary to secure clear and marketable title. l Unlock Sustainable Value from Land: Assist families in receiving value from their land for generations, which they are unable to do until they achieve clear title. Through existing partnerships, EHPF will connect, educate and train families on re sources and topics related to best practices for forest/land management, sustainable farming techniques, and merchandising. In parallel, EHPF will help families connect with the broad universe of federal and state benefits to landowners that hold acreage in clear title, such as grants for growing crops or building on their land, federal loans, and other governmentally bestowed benefits. l Advocate for Changes in Public Policy: Advance policy solutions at the state and federal level to prevent involuntary land loss. EHPF will partner with several organizations that specialize in land loss prevention policy to resolve the ongoing sys-

Enviva Continues Growth Expansion

Industrial wood pellet producer Enviva reported several operational developments in its second quarter statement.

John Keppler, chairman and CEO, noted the company recently commenced construction of its plant in Epes, Ala.; is making swift prog ress on plans to start construction of a new plant in Bond, Miss.; and has recently filed for a permit for expansion of its Ahoskie, NC plant.

Enviva also emphasized that European Union policymakers are currently updating the Renewable Energy Directive (RED III), which was put in place in 2009 and revised in 2018 (RED II), and establishes common rules and targets for the development of renewable energy across all sectors of the economy to help the EU reach its ambitious energy and climate goals. These were increased by the European Green Deal with the goal of reducing net greenhouse gas emissions by 55% by 2030.

RED III is part of a package amending or creating 15 climate and energy laws to increase and accelerate climate mitigation, which includes reviewing existing criteria for sustainable biomass. The final law will be a negotiated piece of legislation reflecting a compromise position of the “trilogue” which includes the

EU Parliament, EU Council of Ministers (“Council”), and EU Commission. Both the Council and the

Commission have published proposals and positions on RED III which outline which renewable energy sources qualify for subsidies and keep the biomass sustainability framework from RED II largely intact. The proposal from the EU

Parliament will likely be finalized this fall in a plenary session.

According to leading scientific advisory panels and policy makers, in order for the EU to reach their objective of climate neutrality by 2050, biomass use in power and heat plants alone will need to double.

Enviva is making solid progress on its path to more than double production capacity over the next five years, from 6.2 million MTPY to approximately 13 million MTPY.

Enviva’s Lucedale, Miss. plant, the first plant in Enviva’s “Pascagoula

Cluster,” continues to ramp production, and is on track to reach nameplate capacity of 750,000 MTPY by the end of this year. Recently, Enviva commenced construction of the fully contracted 1.1 million MTPY plant in Epes, Ala., the second plant in the Pascagoula Cluster. The third

Strategic Biofuels Gains Support

Strategic Biofuels announced that the Port of Columbia, home to the Louisiana Green Fuels (LGF) project, has been awarded a $1 million grant from the Dept. of Homeland Security (DHS) and FEMA through its Port Security Grant Program (PSGP).

The PSGP is part of a series of grant programs created by Congress and implemented by DHS to help strengthen defenses around the na tion’s critical infrastructure. The PSGP specifically provides funds to state, local, territorial, and private sector partners to help protect portwide risk management and transportation infrastructure in support of the National Preparedness Goal.

A total of $100 million was awarded under the Port Security Grant Program to 213 recipients across the country. The $1 million awarded to the Port of Columbia was the largest award to the 15 Louisiana recipients.

The LGF project has continued to benefit from the State of Louisiana and federal government’s desire to support Carbon Capture and Sequestration (CCS) innovation and development to meet climate goals. Stra tegic Biofuels has been a leader in Louisiana since successfully completing the first CCS test well last sum mer. Most recently, the federal Inflation Reduction Act enacted Au gust 16, 2022 increased the IRS Sec tion 45Q sequestration tax credits the project will receive on the approximately 1.4 million tons per year of CO2 it will sequester from $50/ton to $85/ton.

In addition, on August 1, Act 163 signed by Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards went into effect, ex panding the eminent domain acquisition of the port rights necessary for underground CO2 storage in Caldwell Parish and directly supporting the LGF project.

Louisiana Green Fuels will produce renewable diesel fuel from Renewable Fuel Standard compliant forestry waste and will produce all its own green power from sawmill and forestry waste materials. The plant and its accompanying Class VI Carbon Capture and Sequestration (CCS) wells will produce renewable diesel fuel with a carbon footprint that is nearly a 400% reduction compared to fossil diesel, making it the most deeply carbon-negative liquid fuel in the world.

Louisiana based Amerisafe Ins. Co. recognized Danny Britt Logging Inc. of Kirby, Ark. for having no worker’s comp claims for 20 years. Danny, holding certificate, has been a logging contractor for 45 years and has received numerous awards during his logging career. Also pictured are, left to right, AGAI account executive Joshua Bergen, skidder operator Ronnie Barrett and loader operator Taylor Moore.

Bob Vermeer Guided Family Operation

Robert “Bob” Lee Vermeer, who drove the growth of Vermeer Corp. and its line of whole tree chippers and other wood processing equipment, died on August 17. He was 78. His vibrant love of people, passion for Christ, distinct laugh and desire to put others first is what those who knew him will remember most.

Born in Oska - Bob Vermeer loosa, Ia. to Gary and Matilda Vermeer, Vermeer grew up on a family farm near Pella, Ia. where his love for the outdoors, animals and life on the farm was evident.

From an early age, he loved spending time with his parents and two siblings, Stan and Mary. They grew up watching their father and

founder of Vermeer, Gary Vermeer, build a company based on values while innovating better ways to do work on the farm.

After high school, Bob attended Dordt College for a two-year degree. He transferred to Central College, graduating in 1966. His first job out of college was working at Marion County Bank, working there until 1973, eventually serving as Vice President and Director.

In 1968, Vermeer married Lois DeJong and they raised three children—Daniel, Heidi and Allison— in Pella.

Bob joined Vermeer in 1974 and held multiple roles that drove the business strategy and long-term growth of Vermeer, including as CEO beginning in 1989 and later Co-CEO in 2003. He also served as Chair of the Board from 1989 through 2014. It was during his tenure that the business grew to more than 60 countries on six continents with an amazing team of employees and products supported by hundreds of dealers around the world. On the family side, Bob was a leader in promoting succession planning to transition the business to future generations of the Vermeer family.

He was committed to countless philanthropic endeavors as President of the Vermeer Charitable

Foundation. The Foundation’s efforts have improved the lives of people throughout local communities, the State of Iowa and worldwide. Bob and Lois were charter and long-term member of Faith

Christian Reformed Church. In 2007, the Bob Vermeer Spirit of

Caring award began as a recognition of the important company culture Bob helped build. The award celebrates team members who demonstrated that culture both at work and beyond.