What is WoodWorks?

WoodWorks is a sustainable forestry initiative of CooperationWorks! a national cooperative development network of 18 cooperative development centers, the National Cooperative Business Association and the Cooperative Development Foundation.

What is WoodWorks’ mission?

The mission of WoodWorks is to help transform America’s private forestland and marginal farmland into sustainable, productive resources by promoting and assisting cooperative action among farmers and other rural landowners.

How does WoodWorks carry out this mission?

WoodWorks conducts educational workshops on the benefits of sustainable land management for small farmers and rural landowners, and provides technical assistance to individuals and organizations wanting help in establishing forestry cooperatives and landowner associations. WoodWorks also assists with the integration of sustainable land management programs in existing farm cooperatives, and builds individual and organizational alliances through national, regional, state-level and sub-state partnerships.

For a report on some of WoodWorks' activities in 2005-2006, click here.

Why is this mission important?

Improved sustainable land management for forestland and unproductive farmland could mean environmental and economic benefits to landowners and local communities.

Ten million farmers and other non-industrial landowners own close to 400 million acres of woodlands in the United States—which is almost half of the nation’s forested land. Only a small percentage of these landowners have management plans for their woodlands.

In addition, there are an estimated 90 million acres of marginal farm and ranch land in the United States that could generate major economic and environmental benefits if they were planted in trees.

Why establish local co-ops and associations?

Forest co-ops and associations help landowners gain land management and sustainable forestry benefits that often would not be available to them individually.

Benefits of Landowner Cooperation

• Educational activities geared toward sustainable forestry practices
• Resource management assistance with preparation of plans, tree planting, forest improvement and harvesting services
• Joint purchasing of equipment and professional services
• Creation of a dependable and sustainable market for loggers, foresters and manufacturers
• Joint wood and non-timber processing and marketing services

In the United States, over 30 local forestry co-ops, associations and non-profit groups have formed in the last five years. Most of these new organizations have formed with the assistance of WoodWorks partners noted in resources and links.

Who areWoodWorks' partners?

WoodWorks’ primary partners are cooperative development organizations, the United States Forest Service, United States Department of Agriculture, other federal agencies, state and local government forestry programs, national, state, and local woodland owners associations, organizations of forestry professionals, national and state-level farm organizations, and foundations interested in finding new approaches to sustainable agriculture, environmental protection, land management and forest owner cooperation.

How do I get more information about forest cooperation and WoodWorks?

Contact E.G. Nadeau, the WoodWorks coordinator, or any WoodWorks member organization. See Contact us. You can also order a copy of Balancing Ecology and Economics: A Start-up Guide for Forest Owner Cooperation for $10 plus $2 shipping and handling.