July - September, 2010
Master Logger Certification Program
The Missouri Forest Products Association (MFPA) wants to help the state’s best loggers showcase their high standards for safety, forest sustainability and ethical business practices and help them gain a competitive edge.
MFPA represents timber harvesters, sawmills and businesses that turn Missouri trees into everything from pulpwood and pallets to wood floors and furniture veneer. Together with the Department of Conservation they have developed the voluntary Master Logger Certification Program.
Brandon O’Neal, MFPA’s Master Logger Project Administrator, said the certification program bridges the gap between loggers’ knowledge of best management practices and the application of those practices.
“Missouri has had professional timber harvester training for years,” said O’Neal. “We have a lot of timber harvesters with the knowledge necessary to do the job right. The majority of them are implementing what they learned. However, landowners contracting with loggers had no way of knowing how careful the logger would be about preventing damage to the land or the forest, whether they made the best use of trees they cut and whether they had a record of ethical business dealings. Master Logger certification takes the guesswork out of choosing a logger.”
The master-logger certification process is detailed and rigorous. First, applicants must complete the five-day Professional Timber Harvester Education Program. Next, program administrators visit one of the applicant’s logging sites to explain performance standards. The applicant provides a list of five past and current harvest sites, along with three professional references. The MFPA’s Master Logger administrator checks references to ensure the applicant’s compliance with business and natural resource laws. At least two field verifiers – carefully selected to avoid bias – visit the applicant’s logging sites to ensure compliance with best management practices (BMPs) taught in the Professional Timber Harvester Education course.
If their work passes these tests, applicants sign a code of ethics, and their applications goes to the nine-member Master Logger certifying board. These members represent various forest stakeholders and areas of expertise. To maintain confidentiality and impartiality, application forms show only applicant identification numbers. Certifying board members do not know applicants’ identities.
Certifying Board members can request additional field verification if necessary. Certification requires a unanimous vote of all nine members.
Master Loggers must be recertified every two years. Failure to follow specified safety, environmental, forest management or business practices can result in decertification.
“In the past, many landowners assumed loggers were harvesting without regard to the environment or landowner’s best interests,” said Conservation Department Field Programs Supervisor John Tuttle Tuttle. “This program will take away a logger’s certification if he does not live up to the standards. Landowners can be assured they are working with the best of the best.
Tuttle said a Master Logger Certificate also is a valuable marketing tool for loggers. “Demand for ‘green-certified’ products is growing fast, especially in the housing industry,” he said. “Builders get credit under the LEED green building rating system if they buy wood products from sources that follow forestry best management practices. This program is extremely important to keep Missouri forest products competitive in the world market.”
According to Tuttle, Master Loggers have a competitive advantage in a tough economy. Being certified as a Master Logger reduces their liability costs, too.
Information about the Master Logger Certification Program is available by calling 573-634-3252 or at moforest.org/education/masterlogger.html