“If you want healthy forests, you need healthy forest industries.” – Scott Bowe
If you were asked to imagine the forests of Wisconsin, would a towering pine forest appear? Or maybe a well-shaded maple hardwood forest glowing in warm red colors this time of year? What about a gnarly oak savannah spanning over tall grasses? These are just a handful of the many vibrant forest ecosystems that cover 47% of the state’s total land area. The trees of Wisconsin are not just a recreation icon, but also provide useful materials and significant economic benefit to people around the world. Forest products from our woodlands include paper, lumber, maple syrup, renewable energy materials, building materials, and more!
In Wisconsin, the forest industry is divided into two main categories: the solid wood sector, which produces lumber, and the pulp industry, which manufactures paper and engineered wood products. According to the DNR, the Wisconsin Forest Products industry contributes $37.8 billion to the economy and supports 123,000 jobs.
October 20–26, 2024, is National Forest Products Week. To mark the occasion, we chatted with Scott Bowe about the importance and sustainability of forest products in Wisconsin. Bowe is an Extension Forest Products’ Specialist, a professor of forest and wildlife ecology at UW–Madison, and the director of the Kemp Natural Resources Station.
As part of his Extension work, Bowe collaborates with various timber associations. He facilitates classes on how to operate a lumber dry kiln for the best return and quality from that material, how to grade lumber or logs, and how to saw more efficiently to get the highest value for logs. Bowe emphasizes the interconnectedness of economics and sustainability: “If you want healthy forests, you need healthy forest industries.”
Logging can bring big changes to a forest, but it can also help finance the best management strategies that ensure the future health of that ecosystem. Additionally, it is important to consider the environmental footprint of using wood versus a non-renewable substitute. Bowe gives the example of the difference between a solid strip of Wisconsin maple hardwood flooring and alternatives like vinyl, carpet, or even tile. Wood products have a smaller environmental footprint because nature grows the wood and stores carbon in the material. Even with some energy used in production, the overall impact is less than that of tile or vinyl. “Wood is really the environmental choice here in Wisconsin,” Bowe says.
He highlights the efforts by sawmills in Wisconsin working to minimize their impacts. For example, they can use waste wood from their sawmill (bark and sawdust) in their boilers to generate steam to turn a turbine, then use the same steam to heat their lumber dry kilns. This is called combined heat and energy. The electricity generated can offset a significant portion of their electrical energy needs.
To maximize efficiency, different mills process different types of wood products—veneer logs and saw logs for our building materials are processed at different mills than those handling smaller pulpwood materials for paper or pulp. Additionally, specialty logs are used for log cabins, utility poles, posts, and more, showcasing the diverse uses of raw materials from our forests.
Gaining insight into the diverse uses of forest products can be highly beneficial for landowners, since it helps you discover the full potential of your land.
For landowners with a variety of tree species, understanding which trees are best suited for different uses can be complex. As Bowe explains, “Well, that might be a four-week-long course to answer that question. There are so many variables involved. We talk about market-value products, and we can talk about ecosystem services and nonmarket valuations—what is the value of clean air and clean water? Forests can help with both of those.”
While this is a complex question that might not be easily answered over the phone, landowners can consult professionals and take classes, especially regarding the market value of products. Experienced foresters can visit your property to assess the woodland material and determine its value. They can also help evaluate the costs associated with logging, trucking, and milling.
Additional classes, such as the COVERTS class hosted at Kemp, teach landowners how to manage their forest land for wildlife habitat. Bowe contributes to these classes by lecturing on forest products and the variables that affect the value of your woodlands. Bowe reminds woodland owners that “you might only do one timber sale in your lifetime, but a forester assists with many in just one year. Work with someone who knows the industry!”
57% of Wisconsin woodlands are privately owned by individuals and families, which makes managing your woodland YOUR opportunity to make informed decisions and positively impact Wisconsin. UW–Madison Extension Forestry encourages landowners to reach out to our team or forestry professionals for guidance and support. There might be a whole host of opportunities waiting for you: maple syrup production, lumber, agroforestry, and more!