FACT:
Many common urban tree removal practices in the United States view felled urban trees as costly waste. We know that trees removed from our cities and communities due to death, storm damage, or other circumstances are a resource worth saving. When processed, sold, and utilized, the U.S. could produce nearly 4 billion board feet annually to cushion local economies, reduce expenses for communities, and provide a sustainable, renewable resource to beautify our homes and neighborhoods.
We’re here to change that.
A thriving urban wood market would mean more holistic management of urban trees, where every part of the tree, from seed to sawdust, can be put to its highest and best use instead of being wasted. And it would mean that artisans and consumers alike would be able to enjoy the beauty that urban wood provides for generations to come.
We’re the Urban Wood Network
The Urban Wood Network is made up of individuals and entities from across the United States and beyond. We have been dedicated to building urban wood businesses since the early 2000s and united to promote and demonstrate urban wood utilization. We are doing more than just saving trees from a waste stream, we are giving them a second life at their highest use, whether its mulch and firewood or premium end products like furniture and flooring.
We’ve learned from experience that the only way to have an ultimate impact, to truly establish full circle urban forestry management, is to work cooperatively from arborist to value-added manufacturer. A cohesive supply chain is the only way to get the highest product from these trees. Now, we want to use our collective experiences to assist other businesses and other states to join this developing industry. We are funded in part by a grant from the U.S. Forest Service.
The UWN is a program of the Sustainable Resources Institute, Inc., a 501(c)3 non-profit organization. The UWN program is guided by a membership steering committee.
Steering Committee Members:
Jennifer Alger, Far West Forest Products, Western region representative
Katie Fernholz, Dovetail Partners, Forest industry representative
Paul Hickman, Urban Ashes, Michigan chapter representative
Joe Lehnen, Virginia Dept. of Forestry, Southeastern region representative
Paul Morrison, Wood Cycle of Wisconsin, Wisconsin chapter representative
Advisors:
Charlie Becker, U.S. Forest Service, Forest Products Marketing Unit
Amanda Egan, U.S. Forest Service, Urban & Community Forestry
Staffing:
Kari Divine, Program Director
Don Peterson, Executive Director
Join the Movement
Our mission is to inform, collaborate, and connect to build community, business and consumer confidence in the urban wood industry. Whether you are looking to expand your existing model, start a new business dedicated to urban wood, join a statewide network, or start your own, click here to see how we can provide assistance.
