GRAND RAPIDS — John Rajala was back with the KAXE Morning Show to discuss how the timber industry has changed since his great-grandfather started the Rajala Brothers Logging and Sawmilling company.
Rajala focused on the transition to more ecologically sustainable forestry practices.
Managed forests
Rajala stated the managed forest era, also known as sustained yield forestry, came at the end of the exploitative timber harvesting trade. As many big companies left as white pine stands ran out, others remained.
“There were those of us who were still here. We were here at the end, and I’d like to talk today about being here at the beginning,” Rajala said.
The beginning, as Rajala sees it, was in the early 20th century and focused on fiber sustainability. Its heyday was between 1930-50, with many professional foresters adapting to use the mix of species left, as well as the smaller size and quality of remaining trees.
Products continued to be lumber, but also included fiberboard, paperboard and the origins of the oriented strand board, or OSB, product line from the Blandin Paper Co.
The method of managed forestry involved going in to clear-cut a forest, then replanting it with desired species to maximize fiber yield over time. Timber was transported less by rail in this era, and more by truck.
Rajala pointed out this was an improvement over completely extractive methods but was still “optimally planted and managed” for profit.
Sustainable forestry
The ecologically sustainable forestry movement began in the ‘70s and ‘80s. It focuses on building a diverse forest of many species and age classes, as well as looking at different habitats to determine which species — tree or otherwise — prefer growing in each location.
In addition, foresters seek to mimic natural disturbances to enhance biodiversity and natural processes.
Rajala referenced “the triad” as an ideal composite of forest uses — a mixture of industrial forestry, ecologically sustainable natural forestry, and preserves like Voyageurs National Park.
He said, “We were standing there when (the exploitative timber harvesting era) kind of came to an end, when the music stopped. But I’m glad we didn’t quit, and I’m glad we didn’t move on.”
Boots on the ground
Rajala defines the process of silviculture as “boots on the ground” — the actual day-to-day of harvesting, planting, tending and so on that makes a modern timber company run.
The goals of ecologically sustainable forestry have changed over the years. At first, foresters were focused on bringing back white pine trees, but tended to ignore the other important species and aspects of the boreal forest ecosystem.
“It’s no longer about bringing back the white pine, it’s about restoring the natural, ecologically authentic natural or northern forest,” Rajala said.
When asked by Staff Phenologist John Latimer if he saw a future for 250-year-old pine trees in modern managed forests, Rajala responded, “I’m going to double down – 250? No. 500. Yes, I believe that the white pine can grow to 500 years old. I think that the silvicultural and natural history clearly shows that ... I think that we should be targeting 500 years as the age class of the oldest of our white pine.”
The Rajalas had a head start, with an old-growth forest already flourishing along nearby Wolf Lake. They’ve learned from these old-growth trees and seek to emulate the ecological patterns they observe.
However, to manage these forests, you need a 500-year plan, Rajala stated.
“If you’re going to actually practice what you preach — and we’re preaching ecological forestry — absolutely, John, old growth is a necessary part of that, and an economic part of that.”
Folks, Rajala pointed out, appreciate the concept of a natural working forest and will go out of their way to buy from ecologically responsible companies.
Thanks to Mark Jacobs, our producer for the Forest History Series. Read more here and check out our summer pollinator series as well!
