We aim to
help private landowners manage their forest resource in a healthy and
sustainable manner, so that it may provide for today as well as in the
future. Nathan will work with landowners directly and discuss the
objectives for your forest, whether it be an investment, hunting
reserve, family woodlot, or playground.
Consultation Services
Get to know your property. A forest is a dynamic ecosystem that
is forever changing and growing. Most commonly people want to know
what their timber is worth, understandably, but it is also important to
know your forests history, health, and potential. Please take the
time to do a "walk through" with us to discuss these things as well as
impacts of harvesting, wildlife habitat, and more. A consultation
not only educates the landowner, it also gives us a chance to understand
your objectives. There are many benefits to forest ownership and
different uses often clash. We want to know why you own forest
land and what you want to get out of it.
Forest Inventory
A complete forest inventory provides significant data used to analyze
your forest. Using statistics, tables, and the latest computer
software we will determine the forests species composition, value,
quality, health, and more. Having such information is critical
when making management decisions.
Management Plans
A written forest management plan is like having the manual to your
car. A management plan describes actions that address
all of the uses that you are interested in for your forest resource,
such as wildlife habitat, recreational uses, timber sales, biodiversity
conservation, among others. Management plans may also
include a timeline of recommended activities that would eventually
result in the forest conditions desired by the landowner.
The recommended management activities are based on data collected during
the forest inventory.
Having a management plan for your property may also qualify you to
enroll in State tax incentive programs and other regionally or
locally-sponsored resource conservation or management programs.
Silvicultural
Prescriptions
Prescriptions are less comprehensive than management plans, laying out how many trees of each species and size should be
harvested in order to yield a desired outcome (for forest health and
your wallet).
Silviculture
The art and science of controlling the establishment,
growth, composition, and quality of forest vegetation for the full
range of forest resource objectives.
Billing Information
With Timberworks FMSW billing is derived from time
and materials. Complimentary consultation provide insight into the
desired outcomes of the management activities. Whether the goal is
to enroll in State tax-incentive programs, manage a property for
wildlife habitat, or to harvest timber, the complimentary consultation
will identify the most appropriate steps to take in order to attain the
desired outcomes for the property. Billing occurs following each
discrete step in the management process: following timber cruise (forest
inventory), development of the management plan, silvicultural
prescription, and harvest & sale. This allows forest-owners the
freedom to choose the desired level of management with no obligation or
commitment to the entire process in the case that no action is desired
following the inventory.
Other businesses claim that working off of
commission ensures you will get the “top dollar for your timber”,
however Timberworks FMSW does not need such motivation to ensure you
high quality forest management, efficiency, and satisfaction. Even if
your primary objective is maximum financial gain, we will work to
achieve your goals while helping you to understand the environmental
impacts and benefits of harvesting.
A note on commission
Many Forestry Consultants and Forestry Professionals operate their
business based on commission. They regularly offer a few different
rates, such as 10 or 15%, in accordance with the varying degrees of
management. In such cases, management decisions are often made based
on financial motives that do not call upon sound forestry practices.
All too often a “Forester” receives his or her commission and never
steps foot on the property again, leaving loggers to operate freely
without discretion.
Forestry Information
For more information on the theories behind forest
management and silviculture, try some of the following links:
http://www.for.gov.bc.ca/hfd/pubs/SSIntroworkbook/meansilv.htm
(British Columbia page)
The society of American Foresters: www.safnet.org
