“Living Locally, Surviving Globally”
March 25-27, 2009, Coeur d'Alene Resort

Are healthy forests and a healthy timber industry mutually exclusive? No, says Craig Rawlings of MCDC’s SUN. And if you want to know why come to the 4th Small Log Conference, a one-of-a-kind event, bringing together national and international players specializing in small log utilization. The three-day conference offers perspectives from every side, including public and private forestry experts, community development specialists, woody biomass interests and conservationists. And you get to see the big toys too.

Sponsored in part by Hewsaw and produced by TimberBuySell.com of MCDC’s SUN, the Small Log Conference is a unique gathering of forest products people interested in creating sustainable forest practices and businesses able to compete in today’s changing environmental and economic times. The conference also offers a pre-conference tour along with a suppliers showcase featuring innovative equipment, products and solutions aimed at small log utilization. (That’s the toy part).

The issue of what to do with our forest’s small logs has confounded foresters and stewards of public lands alike. Forestry experts who insist overstocked forests need to be thinned for wildfire prevention still wonder what to do with all the small timber and biomass being harvested. The problem has brought entrepreneurs and innovators into the picture, and even retooled several regional sawmills. And interestingly enough, it has united environmentalists and timber interests.

The past conferences, in 2004, 2005 and in 2007 had special themes allowing delegates to see high-tech mills in action, learn how the industry is dealing with the forest service and environmentalists, and spoke one on one with equipment dealers and wood project manufacturers. In 2009 our goal will be to provide even more insights and information about the small log industry.

With each passing year the topic of small logs has become a more vital piece of our larger forestry picture. That's been reflected in the past Small Log Conferences, where momentum has grown as ideas are generated and members network with others to find a variety of options and solutions.

Attendees of previous small log conferences agree that the event is a unique opportunity to access the most informed experts in the field of clearing small logs from forests for fire prevention purposes while at the same time stimulating the woods product industry.

See related press from previous conferences