Practicing Sustainable Forestry • Northwest
A Valuable Natural Resource
As a global forest resources company, Rayonier is built upon our ability to grow and manage an
abundant renewable resource: trees. We manage 2.6 million acres of working forests – timberland that
provides the raw materials for products people use every day. From food and paper to plastics, paint
and building materials, wood products are in high demand.
U.S. Forest Resources
Total acres
2.6 million owned, leased
or managed
Holdings in
But our forests provide more than valuable products. They clean our air. They filter our water.
They provide a habitat for fish and wildlife. And they offer countless opportunities for recreation
and relaxation.
At Rayonier, we recognize that our success depends on providing the products people need while
Alabama, Arkansas,
Florida, Georgia, Louisiana,
Mississippi, Oklahoma,
Texas, Washington, and
New Zealand
ensuring that our forest resources are available for the use and enjoyment of future generations.
Sustainable Forestry
An Enduring Commitment
All U.S. holdings are SFI®
certified, all New Zealand
holdings are FSC® certified
Rayonier is committed to being a leader in the practice of sustainable
forestry – the science-based discipline of preserving the land’s
ability to provide goods, services and environmental benefits in the
future. We are third-party certified to the rigorous standards of the
Sustainable Forestry Initiative® (SFI), meeting or exceeding every
Our working forests
provide wildlife habitat,
protect surface water,
recharge underground
aquifers and improve
air quality.
one of SFI’s 100+ quality core indicators created in partnership with
environmental groups and government agencies. And we incorporate
these standards into the very fabric of our daily operations.
Our highly trained foresters and researchers practice advanced silviculture – the art and science of
growing trees – and use the latest scientific and technological advancements to:
• promote forest health
• protect wildlife
• preserve the environment
• provide recreation
Planting Tomorrow’s Trees Today
Preserving our forests for future generations requires research, planning and a
Rayonier plants
over 26 million
seedlings each
year.
commitment to manage responsibly the natural resources with which we’ve been
entrusted. At Rayonier, we take this commitment seriously: 100% of all harvested
sites are reforested and we invest considerable resources into planting the trees
of the future. And in a business where the typical life cycle of a forest ranges from
25 to 60 years, it’s a commitment we hold not just today, but for decades to come.
Rayonier manages nearly 380,000 acres of timberland across Washington State. Each year, we plant
millions of new seedlings, replenishing our forests with Douglas fir, western hemlock, western red cedar
and other native species. And because much of the Pacific Northwest’s terrain is steep, we plant these
seedlings by hand – an impressive annual undertaking that will come to fruition decades into the future.
Northwest Forest Life Cycle
• Plant seedlings
• Protect young trees from disease and competitive vegetation with limited use of herbicides
• Conduct a pre-commercial thinning to improve overall forest health
• Fertilize selected stands of trees
Natural breeding
techniques
Rayonier neither grows
nor uses genetically
modified trees in
our operations.
• If favorable market conditions exist and terrain permits, it is possible to conduct a commercial thinning,
harvesting a percentage of trees
• Conduct final harvest of mature trees, protecting water quality, wildlife and sensitive sites
• Begin the cycle again
Improving Forest Health
Sustainable forestry involves more than just planting trees. At Rayonier, we conduct scientific research into trees, soil and
water quality – and we use that knowledge to plant healthier forests that will mature and thrive for generations to come.
Rayonier Forest Research Center
Rayonier’s Forest Research Center has pioneered techniques for growing healthier, straighter, disease-resistant trees. Using the latest
natural breeding techniques, our forestry experts have made significant improvements to the forest life cycle, enabling us to grow trees
much faster than we could 30 years ago. That’s important, because fast-growing trees absorb more greenhouse gases, improving air
quality and offsetting carbon emissions.
We also conduct research in partnership with local colleges and universities, and incorporate the findings into our sustainable forestry
and environmental protection activities.
Using the Latest Technologies
New technologies have improved dramatically our ability to manage forest resources. Rayonier has developed a
Land Management System (LMS) that incorporates the latest technology in Geographic Information System (GIS),
a computerized mapping tool that allows users to capture, store, analyze and map important data about roads,
streams, stands and other important features of the land. LMS allows Rayonier’s land managers to make better
decisions and achieve long-term forestry goals.
Preserving the Environment
Rayonier is committed to preserving the environment and minimizing our impact on the natural world. Certified
by the Sustainable Forestry Initiative® (SFI), Rayonier is audited annually by independent auditors to ensure that
we continue to meet or exceed all 100+ SFI quality core indicators. We’re also routinely inspected and evaluated
by state agencies to confirm our compliance with all environmental laws and regulations.
Absorbing
greenhouse gases
Carbon storage in
U.S. forests offsets
about 12% of total
U.S. CO2 emissions.
Source: Environmental Protection Agency
Protecting Our Water Supply
Forests play an integral role in filtering America’s water. Working with our environmental partners, Rayonier collaborated to develop a series of
Best Management Practices (BMPs) – a rigorous set of science-based principles designed to reduce or eliminate water pollution. We tailor these
BMPs to reflect the unique environmental challenges of each state in which we operate.
Rayonier’s steps to protect water include:
• intensive road management: We’ve conducted an intensive inventory of our forest roads across Washington,
and developed a comprehensive road maintenance management plan to prevent sediment from entering
local streams.
• weather-related hauling procedures: Since heavy rainfall can produce sediment delivery from roads, we
More than a quarter
of America’s water
is filtered by private
forests.
proactively monitor the weather closely. Should heavy rains be predicted, we’ll adjust or even shut down our
log hauling operations altogether to prevent sediment from entering streams.
Source: National Association of Forest Owners
• replacement of stream culverts: We’ve spent millions of dollars to replace stream culverts across our Washington
ownership. Working with the state Department of Fish & Wildlife, we’ve installed new, wider culverts that greatly improve fish passability.
• creation of streamside buffer zones: Leaving trees along forest streams provides shade and keeps sediment out of waterways, protecting
fish and other aquatic species while improving water quality. We’ve administered a complex process for buffering streams, creating buffer
zones of up to 200 feet wide in some cases to protect water quality.
Protecting Wildlife
Forests provide a home for countless wildlife species, and Rayonier’s Land Management System allows our
foresters to pinpoint the location of threatened or endangered plants and wildlife. Working with local Native
American tribes and our partners at the state Department of Fish & Wildlife, we map the locations of these
threatened species and adjust our work activities to ensure their protection.
60% of America’s
at-risk wildlife
relies on private
forests.
Rayonier has also worked with our environmental partners to conserve more than 200,000 acres of land,
providing a safe and protected home for endangered and threatened species.
Source: U.S. Forest Service
Providing Recreation
Rayonier’s sustainable forestry efforts have helped to grow and maintain a most precious renewable
resource: trees. We are proud to share the lush natural beauty of our forests. Recreational use of Rayonier’s
land is available by participating in one of our hunting and recreation programs. Individuals and clubs
may enjoy exclusive rights by leasing an area for the entire year, or by purchasing an access permit to one
of our exclusive hunting areas. Any of these options creates opportunities to enjoy our forests for hunting,
camping and other outdoor activities.
Rooted in Washington State
Rayonier’s roots in the Pacific Northwest run deep. Founded in Shelton, Washington, in 1926 as the Rainier
Pulp and Paper Company, we’ve expanded over the years to become a global leader in the forest resources
industry. Yet in all that time, our commitment to Washington has never wavered. Today, we’re more
committed than ever to practicing sustainable forestry in our home state, serving as a responsible
environmental steward so that the abundant, healthy forests we value today will be available for our
children and grandchildren tomorrow.
To learn more about Rayonier,
please contact us at:
Rayonier
U.S. Forest Resources
Pacific Resource Unit
3033 Ingram Street
Hoquiam, WA 98550
(360) 533-7000
www.rayonier.com
©2014 Rayonier. All Rights Reserved.