The Outlook
October 2008

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W e l c o m e

This month we take a look around the globe to report on forestry in Minnesota, Ontario, Finland and Sweden. The report was developed to support the "Seeing the Forest AND the Trees" project, a study tour developed by the Blandin Foundation and their Vital Forests/Vital Communities Initiative.  A key project learning strategy has been to examine alternative approaches used by forestry decision makers in other regions and to identify best practices that can provide local benefit.  The report provides background information about the forestry situations in each of the regions, and the appendix of the report (aka "The Matrix") includes a wide range of comparative data about the regions as well.  Special thanks to Stephanie Berkland, who helped research and develop the report!

Also, be sure to read this month's commentary for a look at how forest certification and green building relate to your most recent computer software upgrade!

Enjoy!

- Jeff   

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I n   T h i s   I s s u e:

D o v e t a i l   C o m m e n t a r y:

Is FSC the Apple of my eye?

R e p o r t s:

Learning through Comparisons: A Look at Forestry in Minnesota, Ontario, Finland and Sweden

N e w s:

Alison Lindburg Selected for Sweden Group Study Exchange

Mini-Conference in Warren Provides Green Building Tips fo Homeowners

Family Forests Alliance Year-End Report

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D o v e t a i l   C o m m e n t a r y:

Is FSC the Apple of my eye?

A number of people have voiced concerns about my last commentary and my suggestion that wood should get better treatment by green building programs in general and by the US Green Building Council's LEED program in particular. Their primary issues seem to be with my statement that FSC wood was “statistically inaccessible” and with the potential for broader recognition to significantly reduce the impetus in the growth in demand for FSC wood. Since I view this as a very important topic and highly germane to the skill sets of Dovetail, I am addressing those concerns briefly this month.

First, I want to point out that I am a current member and long-time supporter of the Forest Stewardship Council. My former company, Colonial Craft, was certified with Chain-of-Custody number 009. The FSC database shows that Colonial Craft has the oldest active CoC certificate in the U.S, maintained since its issue date of November 1, 1994. In rock concert terminology, we were the ones that camped out on the sidewalks to get our tickets to be certified back then, and the only reason our number was that high is that a few people managed to sneak in line ahead of us.

Today in North America there are as many as 50,000 wood products companies listed in various categories from primary manufacturing to retail. In addition, the number of “unlisted” small garage and/or similar based wood products businesses likely numbers 3 to 4 times that amount. These include all the one and two person portable sawmills, custom millwork, and cabinet shops around the country. In difficult economic times, such as now, these numbers INCREASE rather than decrease, as the closure of a few larger mills fosters the entrepreneurial start-up of many smaller ones. Given all this it is reasonable to assume that there could be as many as 100,000-200,000 wood products companies or more in North America. At this point about 3,000 (2,400 in the US and 530 in Canada), or less than 2-3%, of these are FSC CoC certified.

For read the full commentary, visit:

http://www.dovetailinc.org/DovetailComm1008.html

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D o v e t a i l   R e p o r t s

All reports are available online.

Learning through Comparisons: A Look at Forestry in Minnesota, Ontario, Finland and Sweden

Dovetail Partners, Inc.

In 2007, the Blandin Foundation initiated a new project as part of the Vital Forests/Vital Communities Initiative. This project, "Seeing the Forest AND the Trees: How to Make the Most of Minnesota’s Woods", was launched with a goal of engaging participants in a learning process that would help improve forest productivity. The project has included study tours in the Great Lakes region, and in September 2008, project participants traveled to Finland and Sweden to examine forestry and wood utilization practices.

More than 45 forest sector stakeholders have been involved in the project, including representatives from the Forest Service, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, University of Minnesota, and Minnesota Forest Resources Council. Policy makers, industry representatives, and non-governmental and environmental organizations are represented.

A key project learning strategy has been to examine alternative approaches used by forestry decision makers in other regions, and to identify best practices that can be replicated or adapted to provide local benefit. Specifically, the project has focused on Minnesota, Ontario, Finland and Sweden for comparison. This report provides background regarding the forestry situations in each of these regions, identifying the contrasts and similarities of each. Additional data about each region is included in the Appendix. This report has been created by and for the participants of the Seeing the Forest AND the Trees study tour to inform their experience and share the learning with others.

Special thanks to Stephanie Berkland, Dovetail Research Intern!

http://www.dovetailinc.org/reports/pdf/DovetailMatrixReport1008bfk.pdf

To access Dovetail's Publications, click here.

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D o v e t a i l   N e w s

Alison Lindburg Selected for Sweden Group Study Exchange

(Oct. 17, 2008) - Alison Lindburg, director of the Eco-Affordable Housing program at Dovetail Partners, was recently selected to be a team member for the Rotary Club's Group Study Exchange program. The program includes a tour to Sweden in March 2009. Four people were selected to participate in the month-long program that will highlight efforts in Sweden to develop and maintain sustainable eco-communities. The tour will include exploring The Natural Step process, carbon neutrality, and the Rotary Club's motto, “service above self.”

http://www.dovetailinc.org/DovetailNews101708.html

Mini-Conference in Warren Provides Green Building Tips fo Homeowners

(Oct. 7, 2008) - Homeowners, business-owners, students, and building contractors from northwestern Minnesota gathered at the Bremer Bank in Warren on September 20th to attend a Green Building and Energy Mini-conference. The conference, sponsored by Marvin Windows and Bremer Bank, was hosted by the non-profit organization Dovetail Partners and the Warren Economic Development Authority (WEDA). The event was part of an effort to bring green building resources to rural Minnesota and enhance local economic development.

http://www.dovetailinc.org/DovetailNews10708.html

Family Forests Alliance Year-End Report

(Oct. 29, 2008) - Following an annual meeting in New Gloucester, Maine, the core organizers for the FSC Family Forests Alliance announce the year-end accomplishments and the strategic direction for 2009.

“Over the past two years the Alliance has been active in helping connect FSC stakeholders around family forest issues, as well as investing time and energy in the FSC standards revision process,” said Kathryn Fernholz, past-Secretariat for the Alliance and Executive Director for Dovetail Partners, an Alliance partner.

http://www.dovetailinc.org/FFA1008.html

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http://www.dovetailinc.org/donate.php


Questions?  Call Dovetail at 612-333-0430