Why Focus on Sustainable Forestry?

Vermont’s forests and forest products sector are important for ecological, cultural and economic reasons. Vermont’s forests have largely re-grown after heavy deforestation during the 19th century, but they are still threatened by development and climate change. The forest products sector has experienced ups and downs and its fate impacts many communities. In a report identifying which rural Vermont communities are dependent on a small number of large employers for their survival, 17 of the 36 communities identified were dependent on forest products businesses.

Since 1997, VSJF has devoted significant funding to the development of an in-state market for Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified Vermont forest products. FSC certification ensures responsible forest management and promises that the chain-of-custody from forest to consumer is unbroken. The combination of certified forest products and a buy local campaign theoretically provide new opportunities for the sustainability of Vermont’s forests and forest products sector. But there are a number of issues that need to be overcome in order to increase the amount of certified forestland in Vermont.

 

Support the Vermont MapleWood Gallery, a project of Vermont WoodNet, a nonprofit organization devoted to helping small-scale wood product businesses grow and thrive while committing to forest resource sustainability. Many of Vermont WoodNet's members are Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified. These members share a commitment to help preserve resources through the practice of responsible forest management. By buying products with an FSC label you are supporting the growth of responsible forest management worldwide.

 

Photo Credits: Forest (left), Wayne Fawbush; Ben Machin marking a tree (middle), Redstart Forestry; Library furniture (right), Beeken Parsons.

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