Researchers Work to Make Wood a New Energy Source

(PhysOrg.com) -- Is wood the new coal? Researchers at North Carolina State University think so, and they are part of a team working to turn woodchips into a substitute for coal by using a process called torrefaction that is greener, cleaner and more efficient than traditional coal burning.

Author: Barbara Lacy

The government and the timber companies are considered as two of the major stakeholders in the timber industry in North America. Well this is not just true in this territory as this is applicable too to other countries of the world. The government and the timber companies will always have a say on the direction of the industry.

The role played by timber companies and the government in the industry

In this industry, trees are felled and these are used as structural materials for use in construction or the wood pulp coming from trees are used for paper production. Timbers are also used in making furniture that can address the needs of many homes. And making the industry work are the many timber companies and these timber companies may appear at any stage of the business. These timber companies may appear at the start where trees are being prepared for harvesting or these timber companies may appear near the end when the trees are about to be shipped to many companies that will process the timber. Joining these timber companies in the industry as stewards is the government. The government will be there to assist these timber companies in regulating the industry.

The government as the partner of timber companies in guiding the direction of the industry

To be more specific, the government is there to effectively conserve the forests, making sure that timber companies, loggers and landowners will not abuse the forests. Conservation moves by the government can be done thru government ownerships. For example in the United States, the government at all levels can own their forestland.

The government agencies that manage the land include the Bureau of Land Management the US Department of Agriculture Forest Service, the Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Park Service. These agencies are mandated to protect the forest land and also work with timber companies whenever necessary. The desired set-up is a timber industry where the government, timber companies and other stakeholders protecting the forests and making it sustainable. But if recent studies are to be believed, the timberland in the US is suffering. When the timberland suffers, then stakeholders like timber companies have to suffer too. According to one report that was conducted by the US Forest Service a few years back which is titled Forest on the Edge: Housing Development on America’s Private Forests, there is around 13 million acres of forest lost since 1992 and this is equal the size of West Virginia. The same study added that around 23 million acres will be gone by 2050 and this is equal the size of Maine. And according to the same report, the culprit is clear and the reason for the dwindling in timberland is caused by massive development.

Timber companies should work to supply the needs of the industry and to protect its source

For this reason, it is imperative that major stakeholders of the industry led by the government and timber companies should take action too. In the same way that timber companies are depending on the industry, it should also work with the government too to ensure that some conservation steps are made. The nice thing is that these timber companies are working too thanks to its conservation efforts and at the same time these companies still can satisfy the increasing demand for its many products. For those who want to learn more, then additional information can be accessed at standingtimberprices.weebly.com

About the Author:

A comprehensive discussion on all aspects of forest ownership. Sponsored by timber companies across the U.S. that specializes in sustainable forestry visit http://standingtimberprices.weebly.com

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Timber Buyers Fueling the Timber Industry

Author: Barbara Lacy

Timber is a cash crop for most states in the United States and this is true as well in many European countries. With timber being a good source of income, many landowners are into the timber business and timber buyers are getting into the act as well.

Timber buyers and the landowners as the main players in the industry

Timber buyers and the landowners are just two of the many stakeholders in the timber industry. There are a number of players in the timber industry market but among these many stakeholders, the landowners and the timber buyers are considered as two of the major players. And the timber buyers and the landowners are entities that have a say on the movement and the direction of the timber industry.

In the industry of timber, the landowners and the timber buyers directly interact with one another. In the year-round activities of the timber industry, the timber buyers and the landowners will regularly get in touch with one another in order to affect the sales and to promote the production of the timber.

Role of the timber buyers in the industry

As everyone knows, the landowner is an important stakeholder in the industry as he is the one who plants and cultivates the trees that become the timber. The timber buyers on the other hand are the entities that buy the timber form the forest landowner. Timber buyers usually work for the saw mills, the veneer mills or these timber buyers work for the logger. In most cases, these timber prices are considered as the first contacts the landowners have with the forest products industry.

Not everyone can become timber buyers though since there are some countries and states in the US that require the timber buyers to be registered before they can get to participate in the industry. For example in the state of Indiana, the timber buyers in the state should be licensed through the Indiana Department of Natural Resources Division of Forestry before that they buy the timber products within the state. These timber buyers are paid by the logger, the landowner, sawmill or the veneer mill and the main job of these timber buyers is to buy the timber as needed by these mills. And as observed by insiders and outsiders, the timber buyers will come as good buyers or bad buyers too. These buyers buy the timber in one of two ways.

Two ways on how timber buyers buy their timber

Here are two methods on how timber buyers buy their timber in the market:

· In the first method, these timber buyers work with the landowner in order to select and mark the trees that will be removed and the buyers and the landowner then talks for the price of these timbers.

· In the second method, the buyers will submit the sealed bid sale, and a third party marks the trees for sale. For example the consultant or the district forester who works for the landowner will be the one that will select and mark the trees for sale. The forester then arranges the bid sale.

After this step, there are a few more steps that often involve the landowners, timber buyers and other stakeholders. It is important to understand these many steps and the standing prices of the timber to have a grasp of timber market, and sites like http://standingtimberprices.weebly.com/ can be a good friend when it comes to these data and information.

About the Author:

To know and read more about Timber Prices plz visit http://standingtimberprices.weebly.com for more details.

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