Cooperatives in the forest industry help people work together to manage forests, produce wood products, and support local communities. These businesses are owned and governed by their members, who share in the benefits and help make important decisions. Cooperatives can include forest landowners, loggers, sawmills, wood product manufacturers, paper mills, and community members.
Forestry Cooperatives
Forestry cooperatives have been helping forest owners for more than 100 years. In the United States, some of the earliest forest owner cooperatives were formed in the early 1900s. Interest in forestry cooperatives grew again in the late 1990s and early 2000s as forest owners looked for new ways to work together, reduce costs, and improve access to markets. These cooperatives developed in regions across the country, including the Midwest, Northeast, Northwest, and South.
Today, forestry cooperatives provide a variety of services to help members manage their forests and achieve their goals. These services may include:
- Forest management planning
- Land stewardship education
- Sustainable timber harvesting
- Timber processing and marketing
- Access to forestry expertise and resources
By working together, cooperative members can often receive competitive prices for their timber while also protecting the health, beauty, and long-term productivity of their forests. Forestry cooperatives help members balance economic opportunities with responsible forest stewardship.
Wood Product Cooperatives
Wood product cooperatives take forest resources and turn them into useful products such as lumber, furniture, flooring, pallets, and other wood products. Members can share equipment, facilities, marketing, and business knowledge.
Benefits of wood product cooperatives include:
- Lower business costs
- Better access to markets
- Shared investment in equipment
- Stronger bargaining power
- More local jobs
- Greater support for rural communities
Examples of Cooperatives in the Forest Industry
Timber Professionals Cooperative Enterprises
Timber Professionals Cooperative Enterprises (TPCE) is a cooperative owned by loggers and trucking professionals in Wisconsin and Michigan. The cooperative was created so the people who harvest and haul timber can work together, invest in forest industry businesses, and help keep jobs and opportunities in their local communities.
TPCE was formed in 2020 after several mill closures affected Wisconsin’s forest products industry. Members wanted a way to have more control over the future of their industry and create new markets for the wood they produce.
Partners in Forestry Landowner Cooperative
Partners in Forestry Landowner Cooperative serves north central Wisconsin and the western upper peninsula of Michigan. The cooperative is dedicated to providing information, educational opportunities, and sustainable forest management for its members.
Snow River Cooperative is a worker-owned manufacturing business located in Crandon, Wisconsin, that specializes in custom wood products, cutting boards, bowls, and laser engraving.
Cooperative Forestry Funding
UW Center for Cooperatives supports the development of Wisconsin-based cooperatives or cooperative groups (e.g. associations, networks, informal collaborations) in these areas:
- Forest management
- Forest-related products
- Biomass energy
- Forest-owner policy initiatives
- Support for existing forestry cooperatives or associations
See our Cooperative Forestry Funding page for more information.
Resources
Webinar Recording: Economic Prosperity Through Forestry Cooperatives. US Department of Agriculture, 2025.
A Cooperative Approach to Growing the Forestry and Wood Products Industry. CFAES Center for Cooperatives, 2020.
The Role of Cooperatives in Forestry. Dovetail Partners, Inc., 2015.
Forest Owner Cooperation in the Upper Midwest: Overview and Lessons Learned, 1998-2012. Cooperative Development Services, 2013.
A Brief Reflection on Forestry Cooperatives in the US. UW Center for Cooperatives, 2004.
Sustainable Forestry Cooperatives in the Midwest. UW Center for Cooperatives, 2002.