Decades of logging have transformed the forests and communities of northern Wisconsin, removing more than 99% of our ancient forests. Conventional modern forest management often favors short-term economic gain over long term forest health and profitability. Incorporated in the spring of 2000, the Living Forest Cooperative's goal is to restore the forest to ecological stability while producing high quality value-added wood products, and strengthening communities with a sustainable forest products business.

A single small landowner is at a disadvantage in the timber market. Few people have the experience, time, or money to sustainably manage a forest and process and market wood products for maximum return. Small landowners have difficulty commanding a fair price for their timber and rarely process timber into value added products.

In a cooperative, the costs of management, processing, and marketing are shared through the cooperative business. By collectively marketing, members command higher prices for raw and processed wood products.

The Living Forest Cooperative is focusing first on preparing forest stewardship plans for our forests which are certified by the Forest Stewardship Council, widely regarded as the highest standard for sustainable forest products. As our inventory of certified forests grows from our current 13,000 acres, the Cooperative will pool member harvests and explore opportunities for production of value added wood products.

A board of directors, elected at an annual membership meeting, runs the Living Forest Cooperative. Each member has one vote, ensuring that members control the Cooperative equally. The Cooperative is a for-profit business structured to distribute profits back to participating members and to shareholders. The Living Forest Cooperative is incorporated under Wisconsin State Statute 185 for cooperatives