Managing for sustainable site productivity: Weyerhaeuser's forestry perspective

Abstract

Weyerhaeuser Company is committed to being a responsible steward of the environmental quality and economic value of the forests we manage. Weyerhaeuser's regional Forest Councils have developed specific resource strategies for forest products, water quality, wildlife habitat, soil productivity and aesthetics. The sustainable site productivity or soil productivity strategy is as follows: “We protect soil stability and ensure long-term soil productivity by: (1) using equipment and practices appropriate to the soil, topography and weather to minimize erosion and harmful soil disturbance, and (2) using forestry practices and technology to retain organic matter and soil nutrients.” The elements of the Weyerhaeuser reliable processes used to achieve this strategy in the Northwest, U.S.A. include (1) a research database; (2) common goals and standards leading to management guidelines; (3) education, training and teaming across the organization; (4) implementation of Best Management Practices (BMPs); (5) monitoring of performance and (6) adaptive experimentation. This is not a static process—continuous improvement is a design element in the process. Guidelines and BMPs have been developed to minimize detrimental soil disturbance. This was accomplished by having (1) a strategic database on soil disturbance impacts; (2) a classification system that describes soil disturbance classes; (3) a soil operability risk rating system that rates soils on their susceptibility to compaction and puddling; and (4) a close working relationship between R and D and operations to develop BMPs. Steps are being taken to develop organic matter management guides for various soil groups and a soil nutrient risk-rating system. These combined with fertilizer guides will lead to practices that conserve and strive to maintain organic matter and soil nutrients. Education and training of employees is an important step in implementing the guides and BMPs. Operational practices are monitored to assess performance against specified standards. Identification of knowledge gaps lead to additional research and operational adaptive trials. Based on new research information, operational experiences and monitoring feedback. BMPs will be continuously improved to meet Weyerhaeuser's sustainable site productivity strategy.