Glenn Edwards

GTE & Associates
Forestry Consultants
P.O. Box 997
Ukiah, CA 95482
 707-489-8688

October 30, 2009

Mr. Robert Simpson
Freshwater Tissue Company
1 TCF Drive, P.O. Box 248
Samoa, CA 95564

Dear Mr. Simpson:

I have had the privilege of reviewing the Freshwater Tissue Company’s (FTC) business plan in order to substantiate the analysis and calculations used in obtaining your projected fiber chip supply needs. As I understand, the intent of FTC is to source one half of the mill’s needed fiber from tanoak. As you are no doubt aware, tanoak is the most abundant hardwood species in timber stands of the Coast Ranges of California and the management of redwood and Douglas-fir forests in northern California require that the tanoak species also be managed because of the strong competition for growing space that this species presents. Because of the absence of any viable commercial market for tanoak, this species has long been considered a “weed” species. As a registered professional forester in the state of California, I have been practicing forestry in Northern California for the past 29 years. I know first hand the challenges that the forest products industry and landowners in the Coastal Redwood Region have been facing to create a market which can successfully utilize a noncommercial species such as tanoak.

Upon review of the information presented in the Pulp Chip Analysis and the Forest Economics portions of the Fiber Supply Summary, I am in agreement that the north coast redwood region can sustainably supply FTC with the needed wood chip resources, both hardwood and softwood. During my review process, I referred to several data publications, Cal Fire’s Forest and Range Assessment program (FRAP), the Integrated Hardwood Range Management Program (IHRMP), and the California Redwood Association (CRA), to name a few, for aid in substantiating your projected estimates of available fiber supply. Based on the information stated in your summary analysis, review of published timber species (softwood and hardwood) distribution documents and 29 years of professional experience in forest management within the coast redwood region, the calculations presented in your business plan for potential available fiber supply are fairly accurate. I believe you utilized a conservative approach to calculate an estimate of sustainably harvestable tanoak of 2.6 billion board feet within the coast redwood region (1.3 million commercial acres x 2,000 bf). I believe that the coast redwood region contains a significant amount of utilizable hardwood and softwood timber resources that can be sustainably harvested to adequately meet the fiber supply needs of FTC.

Your business plan represents a responsible land management practice and a sustainable use of the regional wood resources. The FTC Plan would provide a market for tanoak logs, turning this currently non-commercial timber species into a valuable commodity. Restoring the value of wood chips to the log will expand the economic benefits within the region and help industrial and nonindustrial forest landowners productively managing the timber resources on their land.

Sincerely,

Glenn T. Edwards
Registered Professional Forester
RPF #2363