International Veneer Company (IVC) is offering to cover the first year FSC certification cost and membership fee in Northwest Certified Forestry for forest owners who have veneer grade alder they are willing to sell.  For forest owners who own less than 100 acres, this translates to a $230 value.  For forest owners with between 101 – 200 acres, this translates to a $330 value.  For larger forest owners, certification costs will be negotiated between the landowner, Northwest Certified Forestry and IVC.  For forest owners who need to develop a forest management plan in order to qualify for FSC certification, IVC is also offering to cover some of the costs of having a management plan written.  IVC’s ability to cover management plan and certification costs is contingent on the volume and quality of alder logs that will be made available under contract.

Greg Franklin, the log buyer for IVC in the NW, is available to meet with forest owners and review their alder stands prior to making commitments to FSC certification or sale of logs.  To contact Greg Franklin: gfranklin@ivcusa.com, (757) 570-2658.

NCF Preferred Provider, Westek Forest, Ltd. has also announced a new enrollment incentive for forest landowners. Westek will pay first year membership fees to become an NCF member with a signed harvesting contract of 100MBF or more. For larger landowners that don't have a forest management plan, Westek will pay up to $1,500 toward forest management plan development or FSC certification costs for signed projects of 300MBF or more. This applies to thinning projects as well as shelter wood or regeneration harvests. Please contact John Zapel, president of Westek, to find out more about this opportunity: jpzapel@hotmail.com, (360) 789-1120.

For more information on FSC certification or forest management planning through Northwest Certified Forestry, contact: Kirk Hanson, kirk@nnrg.org, 360-316-9317.