January 19th 2016
By: Bob Mertz, CEO Humboldt and Mendocino Redwood Companies submitted to the editor of the Press Democrat: 1/15/16 Dear Editor, Glenda Anderson’s article about timber burned in the Lake County Fire raised some excellent points about the condition of the Forest Products industry in California.  I’ve been fortunate to have a twenty-five year career spent in California forests.  The closure of the public forests and subsequent contraction in sawmill capacity left us in this position.  It is a well-worn and old table.  Trees kept growing and the world has adjusted.  Let me share the new story about California Forest Products. We own 440,000 acres of timberland in Sonoma, Mendocino and Humboldt counties.  Our Mendocino Forest recently received the 15th consecutive year of certification for sustainable timber management from the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC).  These certification protocols were established by environmental groups over twenty-five years ago to end contention around forest management and return to collaboration.  It is working! Since our acquisition of these properties we have added over 2 billion boardfeet of standing conifer inventory, planted nearly 10 million trees, opened many miles of fish bearing streams, and removed/stabilized more than 1.5 million yards of sediment from waterways (equivalent to 150,000 truckloads or 3 Empire State buildings).  We also purchase millions of boardfeet of timber from State and private forests in our area.  This includes a recent, significant purchase from the State forest involved in the Valley Fire.  These timberlands provide a sustainable, quality log to our sawmills. A recently complete upgrade of the Ukiah sawmill comes on the heels of upgrading the Scotia sawmill in 2014.  Over the past three years our investment in sawmills totals more than $20 million.  We are proud to have world class people and operations efficiently and carefully process this sustainable resource into beautiful, long-lasting, carbon-friendly products for our customers.   As a result of these investments and the confidence we have in Californian Forest Products our local employment is now over 500 people.  And we are hiring! This news is all the more reason to encourage the California Forest Products industry over log exports and lumber imports.  When we buy lumber grown in California we know the resource has been tended carefully and transparently. We believe in California Forest Products.  The solution to the challenges highlighted in Ms. Anderson’s article is right here.  Locally grown and locally processed lumber will provide sustainable forests and family friendly employment in rural communities with the lowest carbon footprint.  We are glad to be a part of the solution.  Come see us!  www.MRC.com   Bob Mertz CEO Humboldt and Mendocino Redwood Company