In March 2005, Beltrami, Becker, Carlton, Clearwater, Crow Wing and Koochiching Counties formed a Cooperative with the goal of achieving dual forestland management certification according to the standards of the Forest Stewardship Council™ and the Sustainable Forestry Initiative.
Why did we come together to do this?
-
We know certified forestland management is essential to the long term economic sustainability of the forestry community in our region.
-
We want to manage our forests with due regard being taken of social and environmental issues.
-
Certain segments of the retail sector are demanding timber from certified sources - this demand will only grow over time.
SGS Systems & Services Certification, Inc. certified the Cooperative’s processes as meeting the standards of the Sustainable Forestry Initiative in 2008 and Forest Stewardship Council™ in 2009. County managed lands in Beltrami, Carlton, Clearwater, Crow Wing and Koochiching counties are now internationally recognized as responsibly managed forests.