In addition to producing a versatile and renewable resource, our working forests provide numerous other benefits to our neighboring communities and society. They are thriving, healthy ecosystems that we are immensely proud to care for. All the living things in a forest -- the plants, animals, insects and fungi -- interact with each other and with the soil, water and air to form a forest ecosystem. 

In a highly focused world, it can be easy to forget to see the forests for the trees. To increase the recognition of the full value our working forests offer, we measure and report publicly on a select set of these additional "ecosystem services" provided by our timberlands. 

While many of these ecosystem services are supported alongside our standard forest management, we believe there could be future markets for us and other landowners related to these services. For example, we operate a successful recreational lease program in the United States, where 125,000 users hold leases or permits to access and recreate on more than 9 million acres of our forests. 

We also have a robust wetland mitigation banking program and are a longtime partner with conservation organizations to protect and conserve forests. Our forests are also hosts to wind and solar energy projects and are important sources of bioenergy. 

Who knew that forests could be so cool? (We did.)

To prove we take care of these ecosystems in the right way, we certify our forests and supply chain to meet internationally recognized sustainable forest management standards through the Sustainable Forestry Initiative®.

Check out our detailed ecosystem services data and you may learn something new about a service our timberlands provide to our communities and society.

View our ecosystem services data

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