Blandin Forestry employs a team of five foresters focused on two primary functions: Land Management and Wood Procurement.
The Land Management function focuses on the sustainable management of more than 188,000 acres of company-owned forestland. Key responsibilities include determining when and where to harvest timber, planning and constructing access roads, and ensuring long-term forest productivity. Foresters develop detailed harvest plans - specifying timing, equipment, and operational guidelines - and implement regeneration strategies to promote healthy forest regrowth following harvest.
The Wood Procurement function secures timber to supply the Blandin pulp mill. Foresters evaluate timber sales from public agencies, private landowners, and UPM-owned forests, purchasing wood based on the mill's needs. Professional logging contractors are hired to harvest and transport timber to the mill's woodyard, where volume and quality are measured.
Wood not intended for use at the Blandin mill - including pulpwood, sawlogs, and biomass - is marketed to other regional buyers. All wood is transported by road and tracked through UPM's certified chain-of-custody system, which identifies the country, region and forest of origin for each delivery.
Wood from sustainable and legal sources
The legal basis for sustainable forestry in Minnesota combines Federal law (ie. the Endangered Species Act), State law and the Minnesota Voluntary Site-Level Forest Management Guidelines published by the Minnesota Forest Resources Council. The US Departments of Interior (Fish & Wildlife Service) monitors compliance with Endangered Species Act.
UPM Blandin recognition of Indigenous Rights
Blandin Paper Company recognizes that it’s landholdings within the state of Minnesota are situated on the traditional and ancestral lands of Indigenous Peoples, particularly the Ojibwe, and the Dakota before them. Additionally, the company recognizes that wood sourcing occurs on lands with similar histories and tribal significance across the Lake States and adjacent Canada. In particular, lands ceded to the US federal government during the 1837, 1847, 1854, 1855, 1863, and 1866 cessions are relied upon for forestry and wood sourcing activities. Blandin acknowledges that the region holds significant cultural, historical, and personal significance for native peoples. Indigenous Peoples have been the traditional stewards to these lands, and Blandin recognizes the value of that stewardship.
Blandin recognizes there are existing legal, customary, and traditional rights recognized through declarations, laws, and treaties governing interactions with Indigenous Peoples. Blandin fully respects the rights of Indigenous Peoples and strives to balance forest management objectives with those rights, preservation of cultural heritage, and traditional ecological knowledge. Continual improvement in these areas is essential, and Blandin is committed to supporting efforts to improve staff knowledge, outreach, and cooperation.
Blandin is currently in the process of more thoroughly assessing the potential impacts to indigenous peoples across its operational region including identifying indigenous communities, potential impacts, and methods for increased coordination. Recognizing that building relationships requires ongoing communication, Blandin welcomes inquiries from indigenous communities and will work to respond in a timely and respectful manner. Inquiries can be submitted in writing by emailing: upmblandinforestry@upm.com.
