Since the start of Jim C. Hamer Company, we have been committed to preserving the Appalachian forests that make our region so special. Forestry companies like ours play a vital role in managing our nation’s forests.
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Since the start of Jim C. Hamer Company, we have been committed to preserving the Appalachian forests that make our region so special. Forestry companies like ours play a vital role in managing our nation’s forests.
In the 1930’s, James P. Hamer helped assist the state of WV to develop Best Management Practices (BMP’s) which are still used in West Virginia today. This practice consists of harvesting the mature or larger trees and leaving the residual stand or smaller ones to continue to grow as well as other protective measures. Due to the natural growth of harvested hardwood trees, Jim C. Hamer Company is cutting many of the same timber that stands today that was cut over forty years ago.
The Appalachian forests are verified sustainable by the US Forest Service whose data confirms we are still growing more trees today than we are harvesting which is a direct result of Sustainable Forest Practices. For more information see the Appalachian Hardwood Manufactures Inc. website.
The US Forest Service protects historically and environmentally significant portions of the Appalachian forest. According to the US Forest Service, 65 percent of forested land is still designated for non-timber uses, like recreation or wilderness. We support the US Forest Service’s preservation efforts and only harvest in the remaining 35 percent of forested areas designated for timber harvest. These areas were carefully chosen so agencies and forestry companies can work together and ensure the environment won’t be harmed. We always adhere to sustainable forestry practices that are in line with local, state and federal regulations.
The Appalachian ecosystem is special and needs to be protected. These forests are some of the richest in biodiversity across the country, and we want them to stay that way. Managed forests can actually provide more diverse and healthier ecosystems than unmanaged forests. Forest hazards are greatly reduced thanks to managed forest approaches. Without proper forestry, wildfires, insects and diseases pose a serious threat to large volumes of wildlife. When we harvest, we work toward improving the overall quality of the forest.
Environmentally sound forestry practices ensure that the hardwood forests we manage continue to thrive.