Appalachian Hardwood Verified Sustainable

Appalachian Hardwood Verified Sustainable

Documented
U.S. Forest Service data and research from the Forest Inventory and Analysis show that net annual growth in the Appalachian Hardwood Region as defined by AHMI exceeds annual harvest levels by more than 2.45 to 1. By AHMI's definition, current hardwood harvest rates are sustainable.

Participating AHMI members can provide you with documentation of the findings and verification for each load of Appalachian Hardwood Lumber.
Ask for the Verified Sustainable Certificate.

AHMI was founded in 1928 and represents more than 200 lumber manufacturers, distributors, consumers, foresters and suppliers to the industry.

AHMI
P.O. Box 427
High Point, NC 27261
Tel
(336) 885-8315
Fax
(336) 886-8865

For more information, contact us

The Appalachian Hardwood Forest is growing 2.45 trees for every tree that is harvested according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Forest Inventory and Analysis. That is an improvement of five percent since 2007 and verifies the continued sustainability of the Appalachian Hardwood Forest for the past 50 years.

The 2012 review was commissioned by Appalachian Hardwood Manufacturers, Inc. (AHMI) as a followup to a 2007 analysis. The initial research found the Appalachian Hardwood forest was meeting the needs of the forest products industry without compromising those of future generations - sustainably. The Appalachian Hardwood Timber resource includes more than 65.7 million acres in the eastern United States and provides the world with a bounty of the finest hardwood species. That's an increase of 300,000 acres since 2007.

The five-year review found the growth to removal ratio has improved from 2.29 in 2007 to 2.45 in 2012 for the 344-county Appalachian Hardwood region. AHMI launched its “Appalachian Hardwood Verified Sustainable” campaign in 2007 to certify its members as producing, distributing and manufacturing goods from the region. The campaign educates wood consumers about the hardwood lumber resource and provides the research behind the findings. Lumber certification is a complex issue that has multiple stakeholders from the individual landowner through the retailer of finished goods. AHMI has researched and developed programs to assist its members in making decisions that benefit both the environment and individual operations.

The research is based on the U.S. Forest Service’s Forest Inventory and Analysis which is compiled in each state by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. AHMI requested specific data from the 344 counties of the Appalachian Region from northern Georgia through western New York.

Because of natural regeneration and forest management in the Appalachian region, the Appalachian Region is an extremely stable timber base, reports AHMI. This updated analysis verifies it again, and more importantly shows the Appalachian Region is improving.

The Appalachian Hardwood Forest is

	Growing an average of 2.45 trees for every tree that is harvested
	Growing in 65.7 million acres in 12 states in the eastern U.S., an increase of 300,000 acres since 2007
	Growing Oak, Maple, Cherry, Poplar, Walnut, Ash, Beech, Birch, Hickory, & Basswood
	Growing "Green" Lumber Resources for products and customers

The Appalachian Forest is banking trees for the future!