The Outlook
November 2008

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W e l c o m e

This month we add to our series of reports addressing forest certification for family-owned forestlands.  Our update addresses recent changes and activites in the Tree Farm and FSC programs.

Also, readers may remember back in August when we asked for feedback on our reports.  We are happy to share the results of the questionnaire and information about how we are responding.  Thanks for your input!

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   R e a d e r    S u r v e y   R e s u l t s

R e p o r t s:

Family Forest Certification in the United States: Program and Activity Updates

N e w s:

New Partnership to Explore Ecosystem Service Markets for Northern Minnesota

Education Conference for Sustainable Building Practices

December 5th event hosted by New Morning Windows to feature experts on green building, design, and responsible materials

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D o v e t a i l   R e a d e r    S u r v e y   R e s u l t s

In August 2008, the Blandin Foundation and Dovetail Partners distributed a questionnaire to gather feedback about the opportunities to expand report distribution methods and to better understand reader preferences.  More than 250 questionnaires were completed, and the results include:

84% of readers have downloaded a Dovetail Report

71% of readers have shared a Dovetail Report with a friend or colleague

The top 5 areas of interest for readers are:

1. Biomass Energy and Biofuels  (86% very interested or interested)

2. Green Building (85%)

3. Green Products and Responsible Materials (82%)

4. Forest Certification (80%)

5. U.S. Forestry Trends  (78%)

99%  of readers are interested in reports being available as electronic files that can be downloaded

74% are interested in Powerpoint style presentations that summarize reports

55% are interested in interactive CD-ROMs addressing a topic area

54% are interested in audio files

50% are interested in hardcopies of reports

Reader comments:

"Dovetail's reports are exceptionally well done, and constitute one of the best sources of information on energy, green building, and certification."

"The articles by Dovetail are the smartest and most relevant reading for the topics they cover that I have found anywhere."

"Your reports are timely, credible and unbiased."

"Dovetail's newsletter is the only on-line newsletter that I always read."

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Next Steps

To respond to the results of the questionnaire, we are developing reports in 2009 that address the top areas of interest for our readers.  We will also be exploring opportunities to support our reports with brief slideshow presentations and other delivery tools that make the information more accessible and user-friendly. We'll continue our current policy of making the electronic files of our reports available for free at our website and hardcopies available for $7 (+S&H) upon request.

Thanks for providing feedback!

- Jeff       - Katie      - Alison     - Jim      - Steve    - Don

Consider supporting Dovetail's work with a donation, click here to donate online today!

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

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D o v e t a i l   R e p o r t s

All reports are available online.

Family Forest Certification in the United States: Program and Activity Updates

Kathryn Fernholz

Since 2004, Dovetail Partners has reported on family forest certification, the related programs, and current activities. In 2008, several important changes have been made to leading family forest certification programs in the United States. These changes may have significant impact on the opportunities for engaging woodland  owners in forest certification and related land management and marketing activities.  This report summarizes recent developments within the American Tree Farm System (ATFS) and the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) and the next steps that are needed to continue to grow family forest owner participation.

http://www.dovetailinc.org/reports/pdf/DovetailATFSFSC1108iz.pdf

To access Dovetail's Publications, click here.

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D o v e t a i l   N e w s

New Partnership to Explore Ecosystem Service Markets for Northern Minnesota

Aitkin and Cass County Land Departments Collaborate with Dovetail Partners and Manomet Center for Conservation Sciences

(Nov. 19, 2008) - With the growing recognition of the importance of responsibly managed forests, a new partnership has been formed to identify opportunities to market forest-based ecosystem services.

"Carbon sequestration from increased carbon storage in trees and other vegetation is just one example of the beneficial environmental services forests provide; this project will also explore water quality benefits, habitat for wildlife, recreation and other opportunities," says Kathryn Fernholz, Executive Director for Dovetail Partners.

The Minnesota North Woods Carbon Credit Partnership will use data from Aitkin and Cass County to identify potential market opportunities for forest-based carbon credits. The project will also explore other ecosystem markets.  Dovetail Partners is assisting with project management and the Manomet Center for Conservation Sciences is conducting the data analysis and modeling.

http://www.dovetailinc.org/DovetailNews111908.html

Education Conference for Sustainable Building Practices

December 5th event hosted by New Morning Windows to feature experts on green building, design, and responsible materials

(Nov. 10, 2008) - New Morning Windows will host an Education Conference for Sustainable Building Practices on December 5th.  The event will be held at their Lakeville, Minnesota offices.  The conference will feature experts on green building, design, and responsible materials.

"With the growing interest in green building, we thought it woudl be important to offer education about green practices and help introduce Minnesota's newest certification program for builders and architects," says Alexis Bloomstrand, owner of New Morning Windows.

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

To Subscribe, click here.

Dovetail Partners is a 501c3 nonprofit organization, your contribution is tax-deductible and -- you can make a donation online today!

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


Questions?  Call Dovetail at 612-333-0430