Gessner Logging and Sawmill Inc. Lykens, Pennsylvania Buyers of Standing Tember - Sellers of Lumber and Bark Mulch

Do you realize how much money your standing timber is worth?

Timber Harvesting
A young, growing forest is the best for providing clean air and water. A young, growing tree is the most efficient user of carbon dioxide and produces an abundant supply of oxygen in the process of growing. A forest of young growing trees will remove five to seven tons more carbon dioxide per acre per year than will a forest of mature trees. Mature trees use up less carbon dioxide and produce less oxygen. As for water quality, a young, growing forest filters out nearly all nitrogen and phosphorous from rain water, leaving it free of these pollutants, while an older mature forest absorbs only small amounts of these pollutants.

Timber harvesting will create organic materials, such as tree tops and leaves on the forest floor. These materials provide food and shelter for wildlife and they also decompose and create favorable conditions for the growth of new trees.

Because trees act as huge water pumps, removal of small groups of trees can increase our water supply by allowing more of our rainfall to pass directly into the soil.
Pennsylvania's Forest Resources
Of course, there would be no forest products industry in Pennsylvania without the abundant high quality timber resources that are found in this state. These resources are renewable and, according to the latest statistics, it appears that Pennsylvania will enjoy an adequate supply of this high quality timber for years to come if our forests are properly managed.

About one-third of the U.S. is covered by trees. That is about 70% of the forested area that existed when Christopher Columbus landed in America over 500 years ago.

72% of the state's forests are owned privately, state and local governments own 19%, the forest products industry owns 6% and the U.S. Forest Service owns 3%.

According to the latest figures from the PA Bureau of Forestry, Pennsylvania's forests are growing at an average of twice the rate at which they are being harvested.


Forest Regeneration in Pennsylvania
Natural regeneration is Mother Nature's way of keeping forests growing from generation to generation. In the 1800's, Pennsylvania had primarily all softwood forests and because of poor management practices they were virtually destroyed. However, the trees that replaced the softwoods were the beautiful hardwood trees that we see today. That miracle came about because Mother Nature provided the proper ingredients: soil, hardwood seeds and nuts, abundant rainfall and sunshine.

When timber is harvested, the tree is not destroyed, rather live tree stumps are left in the ground to provide that tree with a headstart in regenerating itself. The stump sprout on the left is from one of our company woodlots taken approximately two years after harvest. This happens after a stand of trees is thinned out and sunlight can reach to the forest floor. Remember, trees are our greatest renewable resource.



Harvesting A Mature Oak Tree
We have three professional logging crews that harvest the timber for us. Each of the crews practices safe working habits and proper land management techniques. They are willing to do extra, just to please the landowner and keep your woodlot looking good. We have a dozer to construct roads if needed. To comply with DER's rules and regulations, we have two temporary bridges in case we have to cross a stream with one of our skid trails. These bridges work well in keeping debris out of Pennsylvania's streams. As you can see, we can reach just about any timber that is ready for harvest.

More Information: Standard Timber Buying Procedure