A Self Sustaining System

STW expands the model by incorporating environmentally and economically sound strategies for both supply and demand. Thinning forests creates massive amounts of renewable timber, which stagnate without an equally sustainable market for non-traditional products. Small timber can drive a new style of forest industry that provides products that not only sink carbon, but also replace carbon-intensive materials. Hence, a large number of critical issues resolve through the same solution— fire, economic development, carbon sequestration, water quality preservation—all with community participation that honors conflicting value systems to resolve current forestry policy paralysis.

Research at the Sagehen Creek Reserve shows how this can be done. At Sagehen contracts are let and timber can be harvested in bulk as early as the summer of 2017. Several other forest health projects in the Tahoe-Truckee Region are rapidly developing in similar ways with a goal of providing reliable wood supply over time.

Innovative construction projects are breaking ground in the Reno, Nevada, today. One example is the West 2nd Street project, a 17 acre development with a 6-year build out that looks to include manufactured wood in its construction of multiple buildings. The rapidly expanding Reno zone offers potential demand for other potential large and medium scale wood consumers for Eastern Sierra timber. Beyond this region mass timber buildings are being built in large numbers in Canada, England, Australia and Europe.

We are actively pursuing companies or groups interested in exploring the value of using wood to produce sustainable products for a broad range of consumer, commercial and construction uses. Saving the West welcomes any interest you may have in our project.