Big Creek Lumberii Co. Commitment to FSC Certification:

"Big Creek Lumber has been harvesting forestlands on the Central Coast of California continuously since 1946. Our company pioneered and implemented sustainble forest practices decades before these practices became the state-mandated legal requirement for our area."

"The owners, management and employees of Big Creek Lumber are committed to upholding the Principles and Criteria of the Forest Stewardship Council, as outlined in the Pacific Coast (USA) Regional Forest Stewardship Standard, for all of the company's fee lands. These Principles and Criteria are consistent with the business ethic and commitment to community that Big Creek Lumber has always ascribed. For these reasons, we choose to have our fee lands subject to FSC third party review."

Scientific Certification Systems (SCS), the oldest and largest independent organization to certify environmental claims made by businesses, is accredited by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), an international, non-profit association striving to improve forest management worldwide.

 

SCS examined three vital areas of Big Creek's forest management:

• The sustainability of the timber harvest
• Health and maintenance of the ecosystem
• The company's financial viability and socioeconomic contribution to the community

The evaluation included extensive field investigations and on-site interviews with company employees, contractors, members of local communities, environmental groups, and public agencies.

 

The SCS team commended Big Creek's forest management, stating, "It represents an example of superior forest stewardship."

 

For more information about the "Well Managed Forest" certification you can contact Scientific Certification Systems, Forest Stewardship Council or the Certified Forest Products Council.

Practices

Big Creek carefully selects and marks individual trees for harvest. None of Big Creek's forests are "clear-cut." Individual tree selection allows the foresters to leave trees behind that benefit most from thinning. The goal of Big Creek foresters is a forest with healthy, growing trees that can be harvested in the future. During harvesting, soil disturbance is kept to a minimum, temporary trails are covered with foliage and limbs left from the harvest, and permanent roads are maintained to minimize soil erosion and protect water quality. Wildlife habitats can be enhanced, wild fire hazards reduced, and aesthetics preserved by careful selective harvesting methods.

Redwoods have a unique ability among conifer trees to sprout from the stump of a cut stem. This makes our foresters' job of regenerating the forest much easier. Stump sprouts, genetically identical to the "parent tree", grow rapidly, given enough sunlight, and the benefit of an already existing root system below.

 

Redwoods

Big Creek's redwood forests have many uses. While producing wood that is renowned for its beauty and durability, the forests are home to many kinds of wildlife, healthy watershed lands, and open space for those who enjoy outdoor recreation and the inspiration of a natural forest. Our high-vitality trees help exchange carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and produce oxygen while storing away carbon in wood fiber.

 

A Tradition of Commitment

The caring stewardship of Big Creek timberland stems from ownership by a family who has lived on the same land for more than 135 years. Three generations of the McCrary family are active in the business and, with their dedicated employees, have contributed to the local community. Besides receiving various special commendations, including those from the California Department of Forestry & Fire Protection, "for outstanding contributions to forestry in California," and the California Department of Fish and Game, "for outstanding wildlife conservation achievement," members of the Big Creek "family" are usually first to provide assistance to their community during times of emergency and natural disaster.

 

Big Creek also provides hatchery facilities for the Monterey Bay Salmon and Trout Project, and is a sponsor of a freshwater exhibit at the Monterey Bay Aquarium. In addition, Big Creek offers sites for local recreation events, and makes its property available to scientists and students conducting research and educational projects.