IN THE NEWS

Simpson Expansion to Increase Production

When Simpson Timber completes its $20 million project on the Shelton, Wash. waterfront, its Mill #3 it will be poised for a substantial increase in lumber production, said Northwest’s General Manager, Mike Durga, this past October.

"The combination of additional rail spurs, new dry kilns, and a modern, high-speed planer will provide the opportunity to increase the operating hours at our Mill #3 from the current 80 hours per week to 120 per week. In addition to some significant improvements in productivity, this project will increase the potential output of the Shelton complex from about 500 million BF annually to well over 600 million BF," Durga says.

Oregonians Want Forest Restoration

A survey this June found that 75 percent of Oregon residents want federal forests restored after severe wildfires.

The survey was conducted by an independent company and polled 607 registered voters. They asked individuals how quickly and how far land managers should go to replace burned forests. The margin for error was plus or minus four percent.

Three-quarters were in favor of restoring federal forests after wildfires. More than half felt fires are growing out of control and everything possible should be done to restore burned forests. The poll also found, among other things, that: (1) 9 out of 10 Oregonians protecting forests from fire, protecting habitat and providing forest industry jobs was very to somewhat important; (2) the timber industry was viewed favorably by 67 percent and unfavorably by 19 percent, while environmental groups were viewed favorably by 53 percent and unfavorably by 30 percent; and (3) 45 percent view the state’s legislature somewhat or very unfavorably.

Weyerhaeuser Provides Christmas Tree

On October 29, a 100-foot Douglas fir tree from Weyerhaeuser in Oregon began making its way to Kansas City, Mo., where it will be the centerpiece for a holiday charity drive to provide clothing, food and toys to 30,000 people in need.

Weyerhaeuser's Hallmark Tree Project is a 21-year tradition with Hallmark Cards, Inc. Each year the tree is showcased at the Crown Center in downtown Kansas City and it takes volunteers two weeks to decorate the tree with 1,000 ornaments and 7,000 lights.

After the holidays, the tree is milled into limited edition, commemorative ornaments designed by Hallmark, and the branches are mulched for local park trails.

Unique Partnership to Assist Tsunami Reconstruction

American Forest & Paper Association is joining forces with the World Wildlife Fund and Conservation International to help out the tsunami victims in Indonesia. The goal is to help rebuild people’s lives without destroying the already threatened tropical forests of Sumatra.

The organizations’ efforts are in response to Indonesia’s appeal for donated building materials, particularly timber. The unique partnership will seek donations of U.S. timber to be shipped to Indonesia’s Aceh province to be used for temporary shelter and in the reconstruction of homes, schools, hospitals and businesses in the devastated region.

$40 Million Needed

"There is no greater priority than protecting lives and homes," California's senior senator Dianne Feinstein stated as she tried to encourage the U.S. Forest Service to meet the $40 million shortfall to protect neighboring communities from devastating wildfires.

Feinstein wrote a letter to Agriculture Undersecretary Mark Rey in October stating: "I am gravely concerned the Forest Service's preliminary budget for fiscal year 2006 provides a mere 16 percent of the needed fuel reduction funding for these forests (San Bernardino, Angeles, Cleveland and Los Padres), $7.5 million as compared to the $46.6 million needed."

The senator added that the situation could have been worse had there not been $5 million earmarked for fuels work in the San Bernardino National Forest. And there is currently no funding slated for the $8 million required for next year’s rehabilitation and restoration of burned areas in Southern California forests. Sen. Feinstein asked Rey and the Forest Service to "work with me to find the resources to get this job done."

New Rules for Montana Forest Planning

Northern Regional Forester Gail Kimbell has announced that most national forests in Montana, including Flathead and Kootenai forests, will use new rules to revise their long-term forest management plans. The national planning rules are scheduled to be finalized in early January.

"I took extra time to examine the value of using both the old and new planning rules and consulted with forest supervisors, our specialists, the chief's office and others before arriving at this conclusion," Kimbell said. "Protections remain in place for following the Endangered Species Act, the National Forest Management Act, Clean Air and Water Acts, and the National Environmental Policy Act."

California Grown Logo Appears on Wood

The "California Grown" logo will be appearing on more products as growers join the cause to promote the state’s farms, ranches, forests and fisheries. Already a popular license plate, people will begin seeing the blue and gold logo on Sunkist lemons, Sterling caviar and Sierra Pacific Industries lumber wraps.

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