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About: Trust to Conserve Northeast Forestlands

The Trust to Conserve Northeast Forestlands (TCNF) is a 501(c)3 non-profit formed by the Professional Logging Contractors of Maine in 2003 to administer the Maine Master Logger Certification Program with a broader goal of "Enhancing the Health of Maine's Working Forests". In addition to overseeing the Master Logger Program, TCNF serves as an administrator for a group Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) and Controlled Wood Chain of Custody certification. TCNF also administers an FSC-certified group of family forest landowners throughout Maine. Under this group arrangement, natural resource professionals can inexpensively gain access to FSC certification for their landowner clients. In support of these certification programs, TCNF is working to develop market-based incentives to practice sustainable and ecologically responsible forest management.   

For more information, contact:
John Gunn
Director of Certification & Research
207-966-3031
john@tcnef.org

TCNF Programs:

Northeast Master Logger Certification Program

Group FSC Chain of Custody Certification (SW-COC/CW-1677)

TCNF serves as an administrator for a group Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) and Controlled Wood Chain of Custody certification. FSC Chain of Custody certification allows Master Logger companies to purchase FSC-certified material (stumpage), harvest the wood, and haul to FSC Chain of Custody certified mills or brokers. TCNF addresses the administrative and annual reporting requirements established by the FSC and audited annually by SmartWood. Enrollment in the program is required through TCNF and consists of agreeing to and signing an acknowledgement form and consenting to the possibility of an annual site visit by SmartWood. The MLC company must also maintain documentation on the volume of purchases and sales made of FSC certified material. TCNF will assist any larger MLC company that wishes to pursue FSC certification by providing all the documentation necessary to complete this process.

FSC Controlled Wood certification allows Master Logger companies to represent the material harvested and sold as meeting the Controlled Wood definition established by the FSC. Controlled Wood is needed by FSC-certified Chain of Custody processors that are selling products that consist of a mix of FSC-certified and non-certified material. For practical purposes, generally all wood harvested under the MLC program will meet this Controlled Wood definition. 

Group FSC Forest Management Certification (SW-FM/COC-1881)

TCNF administers an FSC-certified group of family forest landowners throughout Maine. Under this group arrangement, natural resource professionals can inexpensively gain access to FSC certification for their landowner clients. TCNF is the administrative body that holds the FSC certificate and has overall responsibility for compliance with the FSC Northeast Regional Standard. The involvement of a Master Logger in the harvest of member properties will help ensure compliance with the FSC Standard and provide a consistency of practice across all properties.      

The TCNF certified group has been formed to provide low-cost access to FSC certification for landowners, consulting foresters, and Master Loggers throughout the state of Maine. The FSC Standard is an internationally recognized framework of forest management that acknowledges a commitment to high environmental standards, social responsibility, and economic sustainability.

Ecosystem Services Pilot Project

TCNF is working with twelve private forest landowners owning between 10 and 1,000 acres in a pilot project to explore methods for bringing income to landowners for the "ecosystem services" provided by responsible forest stewardship. Ecosystem services include such things as carbon sequestration, soil and water quality protection, and biodiversity protection. TCNF has recently been awarded a USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service Conservation Innovation Grant to conduct this project over a two year period.

Position Statements:

These documents outline the viewpoint of the TCNF as it pertains to specific legislation affecting the woods product industry.

Newsletter

Coalition for Lower Fuel Prices... read

Forestry Equipment Update... read

Deer Wintering Areas in Maine... read

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Headlines

12/04/2007 Volvo backs energy efficient forestry machinery... read

07/04/2007 Coming Soon: EPAT 2.0... read

07/03/2007 Metafore and The Gagliardi Group co-author "The Paper Consumer's Guide to Climate Change"... read

Standards in Focus

Water Quality - Crossings - Temporary Bridges

Written Safety Plan

Documentation of Harvest Planning

Use of the Maine Natural Areas Program