Frequently Asked Questions

If your question is not answered here, just submit it to Forest Resources Affairs through billdryden@forestresourcesaffairs.com and we will promptly provide a response.


What is a sustainable forestry program and why should I participate?

In the last ten years, sustainable forestry has become a widely accepted program for North American forestlands. Sustainable forestry includes a written forest management plan that identifies acceptable practices to be used. Implementation of your plan and practices is internally monitored and documented. For those landowners who want to go one more step, you can gain certification of your sustainable forestry program through a third party audit. As more retail operations such as Lowe’s and Home Depot move towards requiring third party certification on the wood products they sell, your sustainable forestry program will help you retain or increase market share. Forest Resources Affairs can evaluate your current forestry program, recommend actions that would lead to certification and assist you in meeting your objectives.


Why should I certify my timberlands or my manufacturing facility?

There is a growing recognition of the importance of certified forestlands and certified wood and paper products in the marketplace. Many companies including Office Depot, Centex Homes, Hewlett Packard, Lowe’s and Bank of America have environmental procurement policies that provide preference for certified products. To retain those customers and to expand your market share, certification is a necessary step. At Forest Resources Affairs, we have the experience of developing and implementing a sustainable forestry program for nearly ten years on 2.2 million acres and over 30 manufacturing facilities. We can help you implement a cost effective program for your operation. Remember, if you don’t take that first step, your competitors will be ahead of you.


In my business we use and sell forest products everyday, but we are a retail operation that doesn’t own forestlands or harvest trees. Why should I have any concern about a sustainable forestry program?

While you are not a forest landowner or forest products manufacturer, you should be concerned about sustainable forestry. More and more of your customers have a growing interest in environmentally responsible products and will seek out and do business with those who can provide those products. Just one example is the growing market for “Build Green” home construction popular in many growing communities. Build Green homebuilder programs evaluate a variety of environmental factors including the use of certified lumber and wood products and provide special recognition to qualifying construction. Build Green designation is then used as a marketing tool for the homebuilder.

Forest Resources Affairs can assist retail operations, homebuilders and others to develop environmentally friendly purchasing policies and then work with your vendors through supply chain management to assure compliance. Finally, Forest Resources Affairs can develop point of sale and other customer information materials to market your environmental responsible products to current and new customers.


I have heard about the Sustainable Forestry Initiative and the Forest Stewardship Council certification programs. Which one should I use for my operations?

The Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) program is managed by the Sustainable Forestry Board and is the largest forest certification program in North America. The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) program is administered by an international organization, the Forest Stewardship Council. Both of these programs are available in North America and are open to both public and private landowners. Which program is better for your operations depends on your objectives, your suppliers and customers and a variety of other factors. Forest Resources Affairs has expertise in both these programs and can review your operations, recommend if a sustainable forestry program is advisable and help you determine which of the two options is better suited to your objectives.


I’m not a large company. I really don’t need governmental relations work, do I?

Every forest landowner or operator will sooner or later become involved with a governmental agency. It may involve protecting water quality, addressing a species listed under the Endangered Species Act, identifying archeological sites or gaining road use access across public lands. Too often, the need for landowner action wasn’t apparent until the federal or state agency initiated enforcement action. At Forest Resources Affairs, we can review your planned operations and identify the “hotspots”. We can then pro-actively work with agency staff to find solutions that protect your assets and accomplish your objectives unhampered by agency actions.


I am interested in completing a land exchange, but where do I start?

Many landowners acquired their forestlands years ago and find some or all of the current ownership is no longer serving their objectives. A land exchange program or a higher and better use (HBU) land sales program provides the opportunity for capturing the highest value for that land while giving you the ability to redeploy those assets. Both can be completed with deferred tax consequences, a significant advantage to a long term landowner.

A land exchange involves two or more owners who are willing to trade properties. Forest Resources Affairs has contacts with both public and private landowners and can identify and negotiate with potential exchange partners. Forest Resources Affairs can also initiate the appraisal process and represent your interests through to the closing transaction.

As rural development and recreational uses have skyrocketed in the last ten years, a HBU program is quickly becoming an important part of an overall forestry program. Many forest landowners do not realize the current value of the HBU element of their land base. In our experience, most forest landowners have HBU lands that can be translated to bottom line improvements for their operations. Forest Resources Affairs can identify current and potential HBU lands and work with you to provide an organized and ongoing sales program. In many cases, the HBU lands are low production forest lands. Through a HBU program, the forest landowner can convert these lands into more productive forestlands without incurring current tax liabilities.


I have some fish streams on my property that I want to protect. Can you help me?

Yes, we can provide expertise on both fish and wildlife management. In addition, we have good working relationships with state agencies and can call upon their expertise when needed. Forest Resources Affairs can also network with nationally known fish and wildlife biologists and can bring their skills to the project when needed.


Do you only work in the Idaho area?

Forest Resources Affairs has a national scope with sustainable forestry and governmental relations experience in the South, Lake States, New England and western forests. We also have contacts overseas should your operation have foreign suppliers or vendors. We are available to help both private and public landowners.