Woodlands

At Gorman Bros. Lumber, the emphasis on quality begins in the Spruce, Pine and Fir forests of the southern Okanagan Valley of British Columbia. The company recognizes its future depends upon the long-term health and productivity of the resource it manages. Gorman Bros. goes beyond meeting the stringent harvesting and reforestation standards as outlined and regulated by the Ministry of Forests. The company's commitment to the environment encompasses the highest levels of stewardship. The result is rewarding... a sustainable, managed forest for the future. Gorman Bros. utilizes various site sensitive harvesting methods to minimize its impact in the forest and ensures that all harvested areas are reforested. Intensive reforestation practices restock each site with environmentally suited species of trees in order to assure sound forest stands for our future generations.

Timber harvested from public land provides approximately 95% of the company's log requirements. Logs purchased from private land owners round out this volume.

Forest Planning
The planning of a new forest begins before a stand of trees is harvested. The Company's Professional Foresters and Technicians conduct a thorough identification of other resource values through an extensive planning process. They then make a comprehensive ecological evaluation of the area in order to determine how to harvest, restock and protect the forest lands they manage. Forest management activities must be consistent with the Forest Stewardship Plan (FSP) which sets out the goals and objectives for both timber and non-timber resource management in the forests that supply timber to our mill. Click here to view the most current “FSP” documents and maps.

Forest Certification
Our Environmental Management System has been developed over the past 5 years to meet both the ISO 14001 and the CSA Z809 Standards for Environmental Management and Sustainable Forest Management.Click here to find out more.

Third Party Audits:
The Forest Practices Board conducts random audits of Forest Licensees each year. Gorman Bros. Woodlands Department was audited in 1999, and received not only a clean audit, but was commended on the extra care and attention paid to non-timber values such as water, and on our efforts to involve the public in our planning processes. Click here to view the audit report.