A Dose of Reality and a Dose of Hope
By Barbara Coyner
The local press led off with the headline “Business, government try to turn slash into cash” as the fourth Small Log Conference met in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho on March 25-27 (2009). For 175 forest industry thinkers and doers, SLC delivered on its theme, “Living Locally, Surviving Globally,” providing a reality-check on small log and woody biomass utilization worldwide. Most agreed that forest-related industries have a definite role to play, but the devil’s in the details.
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About the Small Log Conference
This will be the 5th Small Log Conference, produced by Montana Community Development Corporation (MCDC), along with media partners TimberBuySell.com and SmallWood News, with the next event slated for Mar. 23-25, 2011, at the Coeur d'Alene Resort. This unique conference pulls together information not found anywhere else.
The Small Log Conference has had a reputation for bringing together national and international players specializing in small-diameter log utilization, the three-day conference offers perspectives from every side, including public and private forestry experts, community development specialists, woody biomass interests and conservationists.
The conference also offers a pre-conference tour along with a suppliers showcase featuring innovative equipment, products and solutions aimed at small log utilization.
The past conferences, in 2004, 2005, 2007 and in 2009 had special themes allowing delegates to see high-tech mills in action, learn how the industry is dealing with the forest service and environmentalists, and spoke one on one with equipment dealers and wood project manufacturers. In 2011 our goal will be to provide even more insights and information about the small log industry.
With each passing year the topic of small logs has become a more vital piece of our larger forestry picture. That's been reflected in the past Small Log Conferences, where momentum has grown as ideas are generated and members network with others to find a variety of options and solutions. The committee is working hard to continue the success of this international conference and is gearing up for an even larger event in 2011—Mar. 23-25, 2011, Coeur d'Alene Resort.
