I clearcut 40 acres and I thinned 40 acres, and the money I saved clearcutting wasn't enough to spit on. That got him thinking. The best placed, most genetically fit trees were allowed to grow to their full potential. It paid off. Able's kind of forestry is catching on.
Certification is a big part of that switch.
The idea is that those who do good should be rewarded by being able to charge a higher price for the products, in much the same way as organic produce fetches a premium price. The Institute for Sustainable Forestry in Redway operates one such certification program. The institute is an affiliate of the SmartWood Program, an international certification program that inspects and tests the land management of foresters and plots of land, ensuring that certain forestry practices are adhered to. Once the wood leaves the forest, SmartWood inspects mills, manufacturers, distributors and retailers to see if the wood is being kept separate from non-certified wood. On a recent tour of the plot near Blue Lake, dappled sunlight filters through the canopy onto ground carpeted in dark green ferns.