US Endowment for Forestry and Communities Releases Plan to Rebuild Forest Residuals Markets

On Wednesday, the US Endowment for Forestry and Communities released its Markets Matter Action Plan, a coordinated framework aimed at rebuilding and expanding markets for small-diameter wood, low-value material, and residual wood fiber.

The Endowment said more than 56 million bone-dry tons of wood fiber from US forests and mills go unused each year because viable markets are lacking. It added that thinning more than 130 million acres of forests would generate additional material for long-term forest product markets.

The plan identifies three priorities: advancing enabling policy, identifying and mobilizing capital, and turning forest resilience into an investment opportunity.

The plan grew out of the Markets Matter Convening held in May in Madison, Wisconsin, where more than 230 leaders from industry, public agencies, philanthropy, technology, energy, investment, research, conservation, Tribal forestry, and rural development participated.

Commenting on the plan, US Forest Service Chief Tom Schultz said:

“The Markets Matter Action Plan is recognition that forest health depends on a wide range of people and industry working together. Developing a plan to sustain and expand markets will encourage the retention and expansion of sawmills and other wood products infrastructure needed to produce wood products Americans want. Rebuilding and expanding the wood industry supports rural jobs and economies and helps the Forest Service reduce the risk of wildfire, provide clean water, and recreation experiences for millions of people.”