Promoting Sustainable Forest Management for Small Landowners
Locally-sourced wood is the lifeblood of our pulp and paper mills. We have an economic interest in keeping the forests near our mills as forests and promoting sustainable forestry practices – everywhere we operate.
Our mills purchased 15.2 million green metric tons of wood chips in 2018, the majority from small landowners and local suppliers, especially for our mills in the southern U.S. For example, at our mill in Kingsport, Tennessee, which has been in continuous operation for over a century, about 50 percent of the fiber comes from family forest ownerships of fewer than 100 acres.
Our mills purchased 15.2 MILLION green metric tons of wood chips in 2018, the majority from small landowners and local suppliers.
While it is widely recognized that our wood suppliers are responsible forest stewards, some customers seek documentation of sustainable practices. In some cases, this may include certification from recognized organizations such as the Forest Stewardship Council® (FSC®).
Our challenge is getting small landowners to see the value in certifying their forest lands when they feel they are already managing their land well. As certification requires technical and financial resources, landowners need to be convinced these additional resources are worth the investment. For example, of the small private landowners supplying our mill in Kingsport, Tennessee, less than 1 percent are FSC-certified.
That is why Domtar has supported more forest landowners in certifying their operations. Domtar is a founder and supporter of the Appalachian Woodlands Alliance (AWA), a multi-party effort led by the Rainforest Alliance in a 67,000-square-mile area of Georgia, Kentucky, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia. We are also the driving force behind the Four States Timberland Owners Association (FSTOA), in Ashdown, Arkansas, which provides small landowners with simple, useful tools for achieving FSC certification.
