Newsletter

Hardwood Forestry Fund Tree Plantings Celebrate Earth Day and Arbor Day

The Hardwood Forestry Fund’s 2008 grant program announces the distribution of approximately $175,000 for the planting and management of more than 750,000 trees ($0.23/tree). The grant recipients include county and state forestry departments and leading universities.

Generous contributions from forest products companies, conservation foundations, and individuals enabled the HFF to provide a record number of grants for 2008 sustainable forestry projects. The close partnership the HFF has with natural resource professionals, combined with low staff overhead, allows the HFF to stretch contributor’s dollars and maximize on-the-ground results.

The Hardwood Forestry Fund was created in 1990 by the Hardwood Plywood & Veneer Association as a way for non-landowners to participate in sustainable forest establishment and management. The HFF is a 501 c 3 educational foundation.

The Hardwood Forestry Fund is proud to partner with the following agencies for 2008 projects (with many of these plantings occurring the week of Earth Day and Arbor Day):

Aitkin County (Minnesota) Land Department
Douglas Hallock Stewardship Demonstration Forest (Wisconsin)
Indiana Department of Natural Resources
Indiana Forestry & Woodland Owners Association
Kentucky Division of Forestry
Maryland Department of Natural Resources Forest Service
Michigan State University
Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
Penn State University
Piscataquis County (Maine) Soil & Water Conservation District
Purdue University Hardwood Tree Improvement & Regeneration Center
US Army Corps of Engineers (Raystown Lake, PA)
University of Arkansas
West Virginia Division of Forestry
Western Maryland 4-H Education Center
Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources - Division of Forestry

For more information on these projects or the leading businesses that support the Hardwood Forestry Fund, please visit www.hardwoodforestryfund.org or send an email inquiry to hff@hpva.org.

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Major Tree Planting Expands Woodland at Tygarts State Forest
Thanks to Hardwood Forestry Fund and Armstrong World Industries

Reston, VA – Kentucky’s Tygarts State Forest in Carter County is growing new woodlands, thanks to a major tree-planting project of the Hardwood Forestry Fund and Armstrong World Industries, Inc., the world’s largest hardwood flooring company.

Starting April 17, planting teams from the Kentucky Division of Forestry will begin to plant 35,000 hardwood trees at Tygarts, expanding the forest’s woodland on former grazing land acquired by the state in 2006. The plantings are a variety of hardwood species including White Oak, Northern Red Oak, Southern Red Oak, Black Oak, Black Cherry and Walnut.

The 800-acre Tygarts State Forest was selected for this major tree planting project because of its ability to expand woodlands and its educational outreach program for loggers, landowners and schoolchildren. Also, one of Armstrong’s 10 wood flooring plants is located in Somerset, Pulaski County.

Barbara McClendon, administrator of the Hardwood Forest Fund, said, “Thanks to the support of Armstrong, we have the ability to revert agricultural land contiguous to Tygarts to forestland and expand wildlife habitat and healthy woodland. This planting creates more diversity of hardwood species and helps to ensure an abundance of native tree species.”

Frank J. Ready, executive vice president and president and CEO – Armstrong Floor Products, said, “At Armstrong, we are committed to protecting forests and promoting responsible forest management practices. Our partnership with the Hardwood Forest Fund is one way that we put our commitment into action.”

The Tygarts planting is the first of four reforestation projects of the Hardwood Forest Fund and Armstrong that will plant more than 500,000 hardwood trees on U.S. public land in spring 2008. Other locations are Devil’s Lake State Park, Baraboo, Wis.; Salamonie River State Forest, Huntington and Wabash Counties, Ind.; and Kumbrabow State Forest, Huttonsville, W.Va.

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2008 - Veneer Tech Craftsman's Challenge™ Natural Veneer Competition

NEWPORT, NC: Veneer Technologies of Newport, NC, announces that the judges for the 2008 Veneer Tech Craftsman’s ChallengeTM competition are Marc Adams, director of Marc Adams School of Woodworking; Asa Christiana, editor of Fine Woodworking magazine; and Richard Ungerbuehler, Sr., president of Federal Millwork Corporation and president of the Architectural Woodwork Institute (AWI).

Veneer Tech's Craftsman’s Challenge competition aims to reward excellence in the use of natural veneer and wood products through cash awards and other recognition for student designers as well as the entire supply chain including craftsmen, distributors, and distributor sales representatives.

Marc Adams is the director of the largest hands-on school of woodworking in the country and is a newcomer to the Craftsman’s Challenge. “I am honored to have a part in this year’s competition,” said Adams. “Today’s woodworkers have access to materials, tools and resources that enable them to excel in our craft. As a part of the 2008 Craftsman’s Challenge, entrants will show talents in both skills and techniques that will surpass our fathers' and inspire our children. I am looking forward to seeing what they can create.”

Asa Christiana is a returning judge from last year’s competition and is happy to be on board again. “This young contest has grown by miles each year, and today is by far the premier showcase for veneer work. I am flattered to be asked to return as a judge,” said Christiana. “Beyond the jaw-dropping marquetry and exotic veneers in the fine furniture, there is amazing work being recognized on the commercial side, from ornately paneled boardrooms to grand opera halls. Cabinetry and millwork categories include still other beautiful installations, like kitchens, home theaters, libraries, and more. The special category for student work is very appealing to us at Fine Woodworking, as we also are working hard to find and support the next generation of talented craftsmen.”

Richard Ungerbuehler, Sr., current president of AWI, is president of Federal Millwork Corporation, one of South Florida’s oldest businesses serving the architectural millwork and cabinetry needs of the local community and the world marketplace. “Wood shops and other similar opportunities for young people are rapidly disappearing. Consequently, today’s graduate is more concerned with the ‘green’ one receives each week and less about the task at hand,” said Ungerbuehler. “Veneer Tech’s Craftsman's Challenge is attracting talent from a wide audience and is an exciting way to recognize superior workmanship in a day when most people could care less. It is my honor to be one of the judges for the 2008 competition and I am looking forward to the experience as the highlight of my calendar.”

Entry materials are available from Veneer Technologies sales representatives, distributors, and through www.veneertech.com. The competition is designed to be very easy to enter: Entry rules are simple and easy to understand, and help in entering is readily accessible by telephone (1-800-593-5601). Online entry is encouraged for submissions of digital photography and forms. Entries will be accepted through June 7, 2008. Competition categories include: Architectural Woodworking, Cabinetry, Furniture, Specialty Items, Store Fixtures and Student Designs. Any amount of natural veneer used from any source will qualify entries. Entrants each may submit up to a total of three entries.

A cash award of $5000 will be made to the creator of the grand prize-winning entry (plus a $1,000 early entry bonus for entries received on or before March 31, 2008). The distributor of the veneer for the grand prize-winning entry will receive $3000, and the corresponding distributor salesman will receive $2000. The top student entry receives a $1000 scholarship check. These cash prizes as well as other awards will be presented August 21, 2008, at the Omni Hotel, CNN Center, across from the Georgia World Congress Center where the IWF 2008 show will take place. Winners will also receive valuable publicity in Veneer Technologies' ads and in public relations materials distributed to industry publications.

Veneer Technologies is located in Newport, NC, and specializes in natural face veneer, sheet veneer and edgebanding. The company employs approximately 120 people and is known for high technology veneer processing. Veneer Technologies is a long-time contributor to the Hardwood Forestry Fund. Veneer Technologies’ John Varner serves on the Hardwood Forestry Fund’s Board of Directors. Inquiries about the Craftsman’s Challenge can be made by contacting Veneer Technologies at www.veneertech.com or telephoning 1-800-593-5601.

Dooge Veneers Celebrates 30 Years By Planting Trees for the Next Generation

What could be more appropriate than planting trees to celebrate 30 years in the veneer business?

This year Grand Rapids, Michigan-based Dooge Veneers, Inc., will commemorate its 30th year by donating funds to establish forests for the natural resource-needs of future generations.

According to president Henry Gignac, Dooge Veneers will spread the contribution over five years, stipulating that the funds be used to plant more than 20,000 hardwood seedlings in West Michigan and other regional hardwood sites, and to support educational programs that promote sustainable forest management in tropical regions in South America, Central America, and Asia. The benefits? Cleaner air, cleaner water, less erosion, greater biodiversity, and more renewable wood resources for the next generation.

“We’ve enjoyed 30 years of success in our industry. This gift offers a way for us to give back to the trade and to promote regional and global sustainability,” says Gignac. The firm has a long-standing reputation for leadership in environmental issues. Dooge Veneers was one of the earliest adopters of the Forest Stewardship Council’s (FSC) program to certify forestry operations that harvest wood using sustainable practices that respect local communities and their environments.

Dooge Veneers provides high-end domestic and imported hardwood veneers to residential and contract furniture manufacturers, plywood and door manufacturers, and architects and designers worldwide. The company distributes more than 20 million square feet of veneer annually—from high-volume commodity veneers to rare, one-of-a kind logs scouted through the firm’s global network of suppliers.

The company’s veneer features prominently in many architectural projects in West Michigan, including the renovation of the DeVos Performance Hall and the Gerald R. Ford International Airport, and in the JW Marriott Hotel that is currently under construction in downtown Grand Rapids. Nationally, the firm has gained attention for its contribution to renowned projects including the Foley Square Federal Courthouse in New York city; Cesar Pelli’s Overture Center in Madison, Wisconsin; and the Kresge Foundation’s award-winning, LEED-certified headquarters in Troy, Michigan.

Dooge’s commemorative gift will be directed to two organizations devoted to the long-term sustainability of forests—one local, the other international.

• The Hardwood Forestry Fund (HFF) will use its portion of the funds to plant and maintain more than 20,000 oak, walnut, ash, cherry, and maple saplings in Michigan and other states where hardwoods grow best. The HFF provides grants to public natural resource partners (such as state foresters) who use the money to establish sustainable, bio-diverse forests on idle public sites. To date, the HFF has used member contributions to plant more than 2,250,000 hardwood seedlings, primarily in the United States. The Dooge gift, the first of its kind for the HFF, helps realize Dooge’s vision for creating a sustainable harvest in Michigan. Bringing about the planting requires the collaborative work of the State of Michigan, the HFF, and senior officers at Dooge.
  
  “The hardwood industry continues to show real leadership where it counts the most – on the ground,” says Rick Philipps, chair of the Hardwood Forestry Fund (HFF). “Dooge’s commitment of funds is a great example. With their support, and the support of our other members, the Hardwood Forestry Fund is on pace to plant three million trees by 2009. We’d like to congratulate Dooge Veneers on 30 successful years and to thank them for their long-term support and confidence in our sustainable forest program.”
  
  
• The Tropical Forestry Foundation (TFF) will use its portion of the Dooge funds to support its efforts to promote sustainable forest management in tropical regions in Central and South America and Asia. The nonprofit group educates and trains timber companies in reduced-impact logging practices. By adopting reduced–impact logging practices, timber companies can cut fewer roads and trails, ensure faster recovery in logged areas, reduce wood waste, and create significantly less opening in the forest canopy—critical to maintaining the environmental value of the forest.
  
  

According to Dooge vice president Dale Smith, “These donations are a way for us to give back to the world’s forest. They’re an investment in the future and an indicator of the value we place on maintaining the integrity of our forest resources.”

Dooge Veneers is certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), an international organization that certifies woods that are derived from well-managed forests using practices that respect the regional peoples, wildlife, and natural resources.

For information about how your company can celebrate a special event through resource conservation, please contact the Hardwood Forestry Fund at 877-433-8733 or hff@hpva.org.

Top Drawer Components Announces Partnership with the Hardwood Forestry Fund
Phoenix, AZ – In line with its commitment to a cleaner environment and sustainable forestry initiatives, leading dovetail drawer manufacturer Top Drawer Components is proud to announce it is partnering with the Hardwood Forestry Fund.
Top Drawer will be accepting donations on behalf of the Hardwood Forestry Fund at the Association of Woodworking and Furnishings Suppliers trade show in Las Vegas in July. Thank you to Top Drawer Components and all contributors who helped raise more than $1,500 at AWFS for HFF planting projects! We appreciate your help!

“Wood is the precious metal of our industry – it made sense to me that Top Drawer take an active role in reforestation initiatives and contribute to responsible and sustainable forest establishment, specifically for hardwoods, “said Brian Emerson, founder and President of Top Drawer Components. “Our business depends on wood, and we think it is good business to be proactive in the overall life cycle of hardwoods. To me, that was a no-brainer.”

Hardwood Forestry Fund Update
The Hardwood Forestry Fund Board of Directors conducted its fall board meeting on September 15, 2007. The Board approved seven new projects for funding. These projects are located in Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Indiana, Minnesota, and Kentucky. Thanks to many project partners, per tree costs to the HFF average $0.25. For more information about these exciting projects that promote hardwood regeneration and private landowner education, contact hff@hpva.org.

Thank you to all contributors! To date, your generous donations have enabled the planting of 2.5 million trees and have facilitated sustainable hardwood management on 5000+ acres of public land. If you or your company would like to participate, please contact the HFF at 877-433-8733 or send an email to hff@hpva.org.

Hardwood Forestry Fund Seeks Nominations for the Gifford Pinchot Award
The Hardwood Forestry Fund urges forest products companies that have a demonstrated commitment to sustainability to nominate themselves for the HFF’s Gifford Pinchot Award. The Gifford Pinchot Award celebrates and recognizes a company’s achievements in replacing trees used in the production of quality hardwood products as well as corporate efforts to conserve the resource through innovation. Previous winners include WalzCraft Industries (2006) and Armstrong Wood Products (2001). Please contact the HFF at hff@hpva.org to receive a nomination form.

Ed Heidt, Sr. Memorial Planting Complete 
The HFF is delighted to announce that the Ed Heidt memorial planting was completed on April 23, 2007. This planting, conducted in partnership with VA TECH, is located on 10 acres at the Southwest Agricultural Research and Extension Center in Glade Spring, VA. The project plants 2000 black walnut, northern red oak, ash, black cherry, and chestnut seedlings. Major benefits include forestry education, demonstration, and timber production. This project has strong potential to teach private landowners about planting techniques, site preparation methods, and tree spacing. It will be part of farm tours, field days, and outdoor classroom activities. Thank you to the many HPVA, and Penrod family, friends, and business associates who made memorial donations in honor of Ed Heidt, Sr.

Grant Deadline: January 31, 2008
The Hardwood Forestry Fund is seeking applications from natural resource professionals for hardwood seedling planting, direct seeding, or natural resource managenet projects that promote quality hardwood timber production on public sites. Applications are due January 31, 2008 for spring 2008, fall 2008, or spring 2009 planting and management projects. Please contact the HFF to discuss project ideas before submitting application. Contact info: hff@hpva.org or (877) 433-8733
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