Why should Forestry Certification Matter to a Land Buyer?
Potlatch’s forestry practices on its properties are certified to the Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) standard and, in Arkansas, the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) standard. That sounds impressive, but what does this mean for a recreational land buyer?
Actually, quite a bit, says Pete Prutzman, who’s part of the Potlatch Preferred Broker Network.
“It’s basically like a seal of approval, giving a land buyer confidence that a property from Potlatch has been well cared for,” said Prutzman, of Kingwood Forestry Services in Arkansas.
“And that also means the timber has been well managed, which increases the value of the property you are buying.”
As examples of how these certification-related rules ensure that a property is well managed, Prutzman said, there are restrictions on the size of clear cuts, along with requirements to reforest areas within certain time-frames after timber harvests. Also, stream and creek areas are protected from erosion, because timber adjacent to such waterways is harvested differently.
Getting certification isn’t simple or easy, with verification by third-party auditors along with requirements to have processes in place for constantly improving the landowner’s timber practices.
How timber is managed should matter to land buyers in a number of ways. Managing timber in a responsible way helps improve the quality of wildlife on a property. It helps ensure that the timber is well-established for future growth. And for Potlatch, it fits into an overall emphasis on quality land management, providing peace of mind for land buyers.
More information about the certifications is available on Potlatch’s company website, and also on the websites of the Sustainability Forestry Initiative and the Forest Stewardship Council. Ask your Potlatch Preferred Broker or real estate manager about it as you start looking at Potlatch properties.