Millions of dollars of timber are stolen every year across the United States, some very covertly and some in broad daylight. Generations of forest management work can be destroyed, and the residual woodlot or forest can suffer extensive damage from timber theft. The high value of some of the hardwood species of the Eastern US is enticing to some criminal minds, as some single trees can be worth in excess of $1,000 each. This valuable asset deserves the same care and protection that any other asset of value receives.
FORECON’s Forestry Management services include steps to reduce the problem of timber theft by working to prevent it in the first place. Assuring that property boundary lines are accurate and easily identifiable is a good start. Occasional patrolling is helpful as well, as unvisited properties are prime pickings for timber thieves. Good relationships and communications with neighbors could be tremendous helps as well, as these relationships could result in a beneficial “neighborhood watch” type of arrangement. Property managers should be aware of logging operations on neighboring properties, and during such times should inspections of boundaries should be frequent to ensure there is no encroachment onto the investment property.
Timber theft opportunities are sometimes heightened by certain circumstances, the primary one occurring at the time of a timber sale. Access is usually open and evident, allowing ideal circumstances for the unscrupulous to take advantage of the situation. Having an independent forestry representative perform periodic inspections helps curtail theft, and on occasion, having a covert program established to secretly monitor logging operations and after-hours activities can be well-worth the investment, especially when the harvesting involves very valuable hardwood timber.
FORECON, Inc. can provide professional timber security services, which include:
- Electronic Surveillance
- On-Site Physical Sureillance
- Miscellaneous Wood Security
- Timber Theft Prevention Plan