programs spell out first 

 refusal on the purchase of 

 the land itself should the 

 owner decide to sell. 



One of the more thorough 

 programs, which requires 

 first refusal of harvested 

 timber, also incorporates a 

 30-day cancellation clause 

 by either party. Effectively, 

 it says we hope to prove to 

 be a good neighbor over 

 the years and to earn your 

 respect; if we do not, you 

 are free to act on your 

 conscience at any point. 



Realistically, most 

 administrators close to 

 these programs 

 acknowledge they would 

 be unpopular and 

 unsuccessful in attempting 

 to enforce required sales 

 before any local judge or 

 jury. The companies carry 

 on the programs as a 

 recognized good-faith effort 

 to encourage good forest 

 management on millions of 

 acres of privately owned 

 forest land without the need 

 for regulation by law. 



One of the early, and to 

 some degree continuing, 

 concerns of consulting 

 foresters is the possible 

 conflict, or appearance of 

 conflict, of interest of a 

 company forester 

 recommending 

 management and 

 particularly harvesting of 



these private lands. To 

 minimize this possibility, 

 some companies have 

 placed these programs 

 under the direction of their 

 timberland foresters, as 

 opposed to their 

 procurement personnel. 

 Others depend on strict 

 adherence to the originally 

 approved management 

 plan and the ethics of their 

 people to avoid the problem. 

 The concern of the 

 consultants appears to be 

 abating somewhat as these 

 programs popularize the 

 idea among landowners 

 that they need professional 

 help. To control costs of 

 the expanding assistance 

 being requested, company 

 personnel tend to refer 

 landowners to independent 

 consultants. 



The American Forest 

 Institute has published a 

 directory of forest industries 

 providing forest 

 management services for 

 private landowners 

 throughout the United 

 States. It identifies the 

 assisting companies, the 

 geographic area involved, 

 and the address of 

 personnel to be contacted. 



Perhaps the most widely 

 recognized national effort 

 at assuring the citizens of 

 this country of industry's 

 intent to practice 

 responsible forest 



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