1. Washington Hardwoods Commission Annual Report June 4, 2008
Title 244 of the Washington Administrative Code:
Requires that the Washington Hardwoods Commission hold an annual meeting each year to present its budget and annual report.

2. The Commission…. Established 1991 by the WA Legislature…
”to promote the general welfare of the state by assisting in the retention, expansion, and attraction of hardwood-related industries…”
Funded primarily by an assessment on hardwood processors.
Accomplished in part By:
1. Creating a climate for development and support of the industry.
Coordinate efforts to enhance and promote the expansion of the forest industry among:
state and federal agencies,
industrial organizations, and
institutions of higher learning.
Cooperate with the department of natural resources in the development of best management practices for hardwood resources.
Approx. 2.5 cents per ton or 20 cents/mbf on processors of 5,000 tons or more per quarter.

3. 2007 – 2008 Commissioners Steve Pottle - Chairman
Brian Stanton – Vice Chairman
Tal Edman
Del Fisher
Steve Sabalaske
Steve Pedersen
Merlin Smith
Dave Sweitzer - Executive Director
Seven commissioners,
four yr staggered terms,
from industry and
Reside in WA state
Three vacancies that we will be filling by election today
Merlin Smith - Resigned
Steve Sabalaske & Brian Stanton
Terms expire
Has chosen not to run again
Dave
Executive Director
Day to Day Activities…

4. Our Vision…
To promote the general welfare of the state by honest research and dissemination of quality information that communicates the societal benefits of the hardwood resource
- Our primary focus is on the resource side
- We want to ensure a sustainable and available hardwood resource.
- for the State of Wash

5. Objective #1
Create a climate to support the industry through legislation, state agencies, landowners, and other private associations.
Participation in legislative process.
Participation/Representation/Cooperation: AFRC, WFFA, WFPA, etc.
Department of Natural Resources
Vision is supported by 6 interrelated objectives:
Essentially all of the commission’s work
Directly related to these objectives
First Objective…
Legislative Process:
- continued our work in support of a template for hardwood conversions
- Ease the financial burden of Alternate Plans on small landowners
- supported efforts to expedite the salvage of windthrown timber in SW corner of state
- drafted a position paper on rotation lengths for short rotation hardwoods
DNR:
- Strong Relationship with DNR
- Recognize their importance to the HW industry
- Resource Manager
- Regulatory Agency
- Meet Quarterly with Agency Representatives
- Discuss activities and express concerns of the hardwood industry.
- Extremely happy to have Commissioner Sutherland on our program today.

6. Objective #2
Influence the direction of research projects that support the hardwood industry.
Hardwood Silviculture Cooperative
Advisory Board Member of Rural Technology Initiative
University Research
Continued to support the great work that HSC does
- primary research agency for hardwood management in NW
Continued to monitor and support
- research initiatives at the universities

7. Objective #3
Support “Best Management” Practices that provide economic stability and social benefits while improving environmental quality.
Important Source of HW Mgmt Information
Riparian Hardwood Conversion Template
Growth and Yield
DNR Sustainable Harvest
Education/Information
- Important source of info on HW mgmt
- Talk more about that in a minute
Riparian Hardwood Conversions:
- Majority of Alternative Plans
- Burden for Small Landowners
- Support a workable alternative
- To facilitate active management of these areas
Continued to support and lead
- Effort to have an enhanced and user friendly Growth and Yield Model for HW in NW
DNR Sustainable Harvest:
- Recognize the challenges to the trust mandate
- Continue to support them in meeting those
- Hardwood management opportunities
- Where it is appropriate

8. Objective #4
Educate land managers on the advantages of managing and harvesting hardwoods.
Annual Meetings / Field Trips
Website: wahardwoodscomm.com
Hardwood Management Information
Seedling Supply
Support of Industry Field Days, Workshops, Seminars and Events
Brochure
Articles
Annual Meetings / Field Trips:
- Try to make as useful to land owners and managers as possible
- Excellent Program Today
- Turnout shows we are having some success
Website:
- Comprehensive source of HW Mgmt Info
Published a Brochure
- Managing HW in the NW
- Field Days, Landowner Meetings, Logger’s Conferences, and similar events
- In NW
Leading an effort
- Issues of Northwest Woodlands and Western Forester
- Dedicated to hardwood management

9. Objective #5 Provide current hardwood inventory and growth data.
Growth and yield model
Quarterly Production Reports
I have mentioned Growth and Yield model already
Most important functions
- Publishing Quarterly Data
- Hardwood Processing in State
- You all have copies of our latest report in your packet.

10. Objective #6
Support alternative hardwood species, products and markets.
Hybrid Poplar, Maple, etc.
Alternative Markets
Specialty Woods
Provide information…
Two members of Commission…
Explored and circulated information on
- alternative markets and specialty hardwoods.
- restoration moldings
- musical instruments
- landscape construction
- Can be quite lucrative
- We will continue to work in this area and supply the information to you
- As we receive it.

11. Logs Processed Summary
Important Function
- Compile hardwood production information for the State
- Volumes processed by species
- Products produced
- Lumber, veneer, chips
- Export volumes
Important source of information
- Anyone tracking the hardwood industry in the state
What does it tell us?
- Volume of Red Alder is down
- Peak in 1995
- Resource availability issue
- Factors include:
- Management favoring conifers
- Riparian area regulations
- Shifts in public timber policy
Trend is a primary reason for Commission’s focus on the Resource Side of HW Industry

12. Hardwood Lumber Production

13. Hardwood Veneer

14. Hardwood Chips

15. Hardwood Exports

16. 2007 HW Species Composition