Sustainable Lumber and Forestry in NY and PA

Gutchess Lumber Co., Inc. has kept an enduring commitment to practice sustainable forestry management through our over 100-years in existence.

Sustainable Forestry

For Over a Century!
As forestry experts,

we understand that high quality hardwood and environmental sustainability go hand in hand. Our goal is to create a greener future by practicing responsible forestry management programs on our company land as well as for individual forest landowners. This practice enables natural forest regeneration and creates climate change-resilient forests. Naturally regenerating forests are known to be more resilient, which is determined by the forests biological and ecological resources, including the diversity of native plants, animals, and fungi. To help us reach our goal, Gutchess Lumber employs a team of qualified foresters, all of whom champion and oversee responsible forestry management practices.

Our commitment to environmental stewardship begins in the forest and supports the flow of carbon that is sequestered in the timber to the hardwood lumber products we produce. Hardwood products can store carbon for decades, centuries, or indefinitely in some cases. By using hardwood products, you can help to mitigate climate change. Scientists also forecast unhealthy forest composition changes due to insects and disease over the next 100 years, which active forest management can help to reduce.

Buying Gutchess Lumber hardwood means supporting environmental sustainability and together, we will create a greener future for our customers, for our families, and for our planet.

Gutchess Lumber Co., Inc. is Rooted in Responsible Forest Stewardship and Creating Climate Change-Resilient Forests

"We remove mature trees from the forests and sequester the carbon in those trees into furniture, flooring, etc., which lasts for decades or sometimes centuries. Those trees otherwise would die and release that carbon directly back into the atmosphere. Even better, removal of the overstory allows new trees to grow, which consume carbon out of the atmosphere more efficiently than mature trees. This makes an active working forest a powerful force for mitigation of climate change."
Matthew Gutchess
5th Generation President and Chairman

Accreditations Received through Sustainable Logging and Forestry Management

Certifications and Affiliations

Gutchess Lumber has been practicing sustainable forestry for over a century. When your business depends on the forests, practicing environmentally responsible forestry and using science based proven methods is just common sense. To view our Sustainability Verification Certificate issued to us by the National Hardwood Lumber Association (NHLA) click here.

Today Gutchess Lumber owns tens of thousands of acres of forests in the heart of prime northern hardwoods country of New York and Pennsylvania. We practice various silvicultural prescriptions on select sites throughout our 26,000 acres across New York and Pennsylvania, maintaining the health of the forest and improving the quality of the timber stands. Our product offering of eleven hardwood species grow in mixed hardwood forests on well drained sites which naturally regenerate.

National Hardwood Lumber Association

Beginning in 1898, the National Hardwood Lumber Association (NHLA) has grown to become an international, membership-based trade association dedicated to the hardwood industry. With a mission to serve those engaged in the commerce of North American hardwood lumber by maintaining order, structure and ethics in the changing global hardwood market place.

Pennsylvania Forest Products Association Member

The Pennsylvania Forest Products Association formed in 1980 with the goal to provide a unified voice on state legislative and regulatory issues. Today, the PFPA supports and promotes the forest products industry through government relations and public outreach.

Empire State Forest Products Association

The Empire State Forest Products Association (ESFPA) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the business climate of the forest products industry while promoting management of NEw York’s forests to meet the resource needs of today and future generations. Members include forest landowners, timber harvesters, furniture companies, lumber manufacturers, pulp and paper companies and other wood product manufacturers.

Society of American Foresters

With a mission to advance sustainable management of forest resources through science, education, and technology in order to promote professional excellence while ensuring the continued health, integrity and use of forests to benefit society in perpetuity, the Society of American Foresters was formed. Established in 1900, the SAF has grown to a 10,000-member community that has sustained the original objective to bring forestry and natural resource professionals together and keep them informed about the latest advances in forest science and management.

Employee Stock Ownership Plan: NCEO

Established in 1981, the ESOP NCEO is a nonprofit organization that supports the employee ownership community with a mission to help employee ownership thrive.

American Hardwood Export Council

The American Hardwood Export Council (AHEC) is the leading international trade association for the U.S. hardwood industry, representing the committed U.S> hardwood exporters and the major U.S. hardwood product trade associations.

Appalachian Hardwood Manufacturers Inc.

AHMI completed a survey of Consumer Division members in 2017 and learned that customers are seeking more documentation about the source of products. AHMI implemented Certified Appalachian, a new program that is third-party audited to certify your company’s sourcing meeting the standards adopted by the AHMI Board of Trustees.

Real American Hardwood Coalition

The Real American Hardwood Coalition (RAHC) is a voluntary, industry-wide, domestic initiative that seeks to promote Real American Hardwood products by educating consumers, increasing markets and sales, improving industry stability, and researching and developing new products.

How Gutchess Lumber Mitigates Waste for Environmental Benefit

In our business there are no Waste products. Products that are produced throughout the harvesting/milling process are called byproducts:

Bark Mulch

Bark mulch is produced at the mill when debarking the logs – this product is sold for playground & landscape mulch.

Chips & Sawdust

Chips/Sawdust are produced while sawing the logs – these chips can be sold to pellet manufactures as a heating source, the sawdust can be sold to local farms as bedding for livestock or used in our own operation as fuel for our boilers

Low-Grade Lumber

Low grade lumber that is produced goes in to making pallets which then can be used to move products from our and other companies around the world.

Energy Reduction Programs

Our sawmills have been enrolled in energy reducing programs such as LED lighting in all our mills/NYSERDA Audits

Find the Right Gutchess Lumber Hardwoods for You