Tribes contract to thin 78 acres of forest land
Published on Thu, Feb 26, 2009Read More Local News
A spring thinning operation on Tulalip land will generate income for the Tribes while helping to stimulate other local businesses, according to tribal spokesperson George White.
The bid for the thinning of 78.5 acres of Tulalip forest land has been awarded to Precision Thinning of Sedro-Woolley. In February, the company began harvesting 28-year-old Douglas fir plantations to reach a maintenance level of 160 trees per acre. Forestry experts explain the selective thinning accelerates the growth of the remaining trees, creating a healthier and more productive forest environment.
Saw logs will be shipped to Hampton Mills in Darrington, the pulp will be shipped to Willis Enterprises in Everett and the alder will go to Washington Alder in Mount Vernon. The work is scheduled to continue through April.
"Many years ago we decided that our forests would remain undeveloped and natural," said Glen Gobin, business committee chairman. "Our people depend on the forests to hunt deer and elk, gather berries, and harvest cedar. The forests are important to our culture and who we are as Tulalip people."
The goal of the original program was to preserve the forests. Today that goal has expanded to not only preserve the forest for the Tulalip people, but to create a logging operation that creates revenue for tribal welfare. Within 25 years, the ongoing thinning could generate significant revenue to further the forestry program and help support the future economy of the region.
Tulalip tribal members have always used the resources of the land and water to live. Keeping the forests healthy allows Tribal members to practice their culture through hunting, gathering of berries and herbs, and the use of cedar to make baskets, hats, and clothing.
Since the first Forest Management Plan was written and adopted by the Tribes in 1978, nearly 4,000 acres of timberland have been harvested and replanted with close to 1,600,000 seedlings. Each year's harvest averages 200 acres, on which the Tribes plant approximately 80,000 two-year-old seedlings. The tree species mix is generally 70 percent Douglas fir, 20 percent western hemlock and 10 percent western red cedar.
For more than two decades, pre-commercial thinning has also helped to improve the health and longevity of the forest ecosystem. Removing deformed or suppressed trees naturally allows the healthier trees to grow to their full potential. In addition, managing the density of forest growth promotes healthy tree and plant development, animal populations, and carbon emissions/absorption that are critical for oxygen production and stabilization.
Since 1987 the Tribes have thinned 3,000 acres of sapling size timber stands, an average of about 150 acres per year.
The bid for the thinning of 78.5 acres of Tulalip forest land has been awarded to Precision Thinning of Sedro-Woolley. In February, the company began harvesting 28-year-old Douglas fir plantations to reach a maintenance level of 160 trees per acre. Forestry experts explain the selective thinning accelerates the growth of the remaining trees, creating a healthier and more productive forest environment.
Saw logs will be shipped to Hampton Mills in Darrington, the pulp will be shipped to Willis Enterprises in Everett and the alder will go to Washington Alder in Mount Vernon. The work is scheduled to continue through April.
"Many years ago we decided that our forests would remain undeveloped and natural," said Glen Gobin, business committee chairman. "Our people depend on the forests to hunt deer and elk, gather berries, and harvest cedar. The forests are important to our culture and who we are as Tulalip people."
The goal of the original program was to preserve the forests. Today that goal has expanded to not only preserve the forest for the Tulalip people, but to create a logging operation that creates revenue for tribal welfare. Within 25 years, the ongoing thinning could generate significant revenue to further the forestry program and help support the future economy of the region.
Tulalip tribal members have always used the resources of the land and water to live. Keeping the forests healthy allows Tribal members to practice their culture through hunting, gathering of berries and herbs, and the use of cedar to make baskets, hats, and clothing.
Since the first Forest Management Plan was written and adopted by the Tribes in 1978, nearly 4,000 acres of timberland have been harvested and replanted with close to 1,600,000 seedlings. Each year's harvest averages 200 acres, on which the Tribes plant approximately 80,000 two-year-old seedlings. The tree species mix is generally 70 percent Douglas fir, 20 percent western hemlock and 10 percent western red cedar.
For more than two decades, pre-commercial thinning has also helped to improve the health and longevity of the forest ecosystem. Removing deformed or suppressed trees naturally allows the healthier trees to grow to their full potential. In addition, managing the density of forest growth promotes healthy tree and plant development, animal populations, and carbon emissions/absorption that are critical for oxygen production and stabilization.
Since 1987 the Tribes have thinned 3,000 acres of sapling size timber stands, an average of about 150 acres per year.
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