Forests at Work
Thoughtful perspectives on working forests, wood products, forest policy, and the people and communities connected to them.
Explore articles from Forests at Work, a Substack publication from Hampton Lumber. The publication reflects our perspective and experience, with articles written by people who work directly in forestry, wood products, public policy and rural communities. Select an article below to read the full piece and subscribe for free on Substack.
I support rescinding the Roadless Rule, but not for the reasons you might think
Dave Kunert
Changes to federal forest policy—especially those involving access and timber harvesting—can trigger passionate reactions from a wide variety of interest groups. I’d like to try to cut through some of the noise and rhetoric to provide my honest assessment of the Administration’s recent move to rescind the Roadless Rule, which has restricted road construction and timber harvesting on roughly 30 percent of national forest land since 2001. While some fear this will open the floodgates to unchecked logging, I see it differently.
What Happens After the Fire?
Dave Kunert
Today, fire is one of the most significant forces shaping western forests. We spend a great deal of time talking about wildfire while it’s burning: acres lost, homes threatened, evacuation notices, smoke-filled skies, and firefighting costs. What receives far less attention is what happens after the flames go out. Should burned forests simply be left alone? Will they regenerate on their own given climate change and competition from invasive species? How long will recovery take? What happens to the millions of dead trees left standing across the landscape? These are the questions landowners and foresters must grapple with long after the headlines fade.
Welcome to Forests at Work
Chris Walton
North American forests are often at the center of important conversations about the environment, climate, housing, jobs, trade, and rural communities. Understanding the diverse benefits of forests and the local, national, and global factors that influence them is critical to identifying the opportunities, challenges, and connections that shape both forests and communities. Forests at Work is a place where different voices from across our company can share what they’re seeing and learning. Whatever your background or interests, I hope you’ll find something here worth your time.