SDS Lumber
Sales Office
P.O. Box 407
Bingen, WA 98605
Phone:
509-493-1444
Fax:
509-493-1149
sales email

SDS Lumber
Business Office
P.O. Box 266
Bingen, WA 98605
Phone:
509-493-2155
Fax:
509-493-2535
business email

SDS owns and manages 70,000 acres of timberland in Washington and Oregon. Timber harvested from our company lands supply 1/3 of the raw material used in our manufacturing facilities.

SDS manages its forestlands with the objective of producing as much high quality wood as possible without compromising the future economic and environmental benefits of our forests. As long as forests are managed responsibly and for the long term, wood consumption should be encouraged and revered as a renewable, green resource. The benefits and uses of wood are numerous. Besides being aesthetically pleasing, wood is the only building material that is renewable, recyclable and biodegradable. We are aware of the immense value in maintaining and protecting our timberlands. Forests provide habitat for various species of plants and wildlife, they protect watersheds, they emit oxygen into the atmosphere and consume carbon dioxide, and they provide beautiful spaces for recreation. In order to protect the long- term health of both our forests and business, we manage our forests on a sustainable yield basis. This means we harvest and replant at rates that not only guarantee a continuous supply of raw material to our mills, but also ensure the availability of wood and wood products for future generations.

SDS forestlands are comprised primarily of second growth Douglas Firs, Ponderosa Pine and Grand Fir. SDS reforests 100% with these native species to preserve our unique biodiversity. Before a forest stand reaches maturity, we often perform an intermediate harvest, also known as a commercial thin. This involves strategically harvesting specific trees in order to give the remaining trees more space and light to grow. Thinning a forest maximizes growth and wood volume. Once a forest stand reaches maturity, anywhere between 50-70 years in age and 30-40 inches in diameter, the stand is harvested using even aged harvesting methods, or uneven aged harvesting methods, otherwise known as partial cuts. Seedlings are planted as soon as the following spring, ensuring that the next growing cycle begins quickly to avoid unnecessary erosion. As a rule of thumb, we plant 360 seedlings per acre, or 3 trees for every 1 tree that is harvested.

EVEN AGED HARVESTING:

Under SDS' philosophy, even aged harvesting does not have to bring to mind ugly images of expansive clearcutting. Today's responsible and wise companies are sensitive to the aesthetic values of the forests as well as the importance of wildlife and biodiversity. Harvests that are smaller and non-contiguous are more common today than ever before. When done with care and consideration, even aged harvests are the most cost- effective and environmentally sound method of regenerating the forest. They maximize the growth rate of new forests, thus returning sites to forested conditions as quickly as possible. Douglas Fir seedlings require space and light to grow, thus openings are required for seedling survival and forest renewal.

In nature new growth occurs where large disturbances such as fire, windstorm or disease clear the land. Unlike this method of reforestation, we can control the size and environmental conditions of harvests. Under SDS management, downed logs and standing trees are left to shelter wildlife, remaining limbs and tree tops generated from the harvest are left to nourish the soil, buffers of trees and brush are created next to streams in order to protect fish and water quality, and groves of native species such as oak and aspen are left to preserve natural biodiversity.

An argument against even aged harvests is that the resulting bare patches of land look unsightly. In response to this argument, SDS voluntarily seeks an average size of harvest openings smaller than the 120 acres that Oregon and Washington State laws allow. Furthermore, we encourage people to view our harvests as land that is being prepared for the next growing season. As with other agricultural crops, this constructive phase involves carefully treating the land during the harvest, preparing the soil and planting seedlings quickly for optimal re-growth. As with agriculture, this phase of the cycle is not as beautiful as when the land is ripe with crops. However, in both cases, it is essential for healthy growth.

SUSTAINABLE YIELD FORESTRY:

Today our forestry department uses the latest in computer technology to provide all the information needed to plan sustainable harvests. We record the size, species and rate of growth for every acre of timber. Our inventory accounts for land that we set aside for native habitats such as stream buffers, fish and wildlife protection areas, and other special management zones. This information, coupled with computer technology, allows us to quickly and effectively locate timber stands that are ideal for specific harvests. We can now closely monitor wood growth and volume, ensuring a continuous supply and maximum wood production.

Sustainable yield forestry is good business for both internal operations and external relations. There has been a push in the marketplace over the past few years for wood products to be third party certified as "sustainable". Conscientious consumers want to know that the wood comes from a responsible supplier. SDS embraces the philosophy of sustainable and though our forest practices absolutely qualify as sustainable yield, we have not yet sought the certification of a third party agency. We are currently looking to the various accredited associations that certify wood products.

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