Paul Swartz

1. PaulSwartz
CampusArborist
InfrastructurePlanningandFacilities
andDepartmentofForestry

2. About Trees at MSU
• 2,100 acre campus
• 3,000 acres of farms
south of the main campus.
• Over 24,200 trees
• 1,885 different taxa
in the MSU tree collection.
• Vast and invaluable resource for teaching, studying and conducting research.

3. Former Wood Utilization Model
• Trees and branches are
chipped.
• Chips have been used as
landscaping mulch or burned
in the Power Plant as
biomass.
• These methods release
carbon dioxide.

4. Urban Wood
Municipalities and the U.S. Forest Service have teamed up in response to
the spread of the Emerald Ash Borer to develop urban wood resources
and markets for new products.

5. Sustainable Wood Recovery
Initiative
Cross-functional collaborative formed to look at processes and development of
comprehensive business plan for urban wood utilization on campus.
Governance

6. • Develop a model recovery and repurposing supply-chain system for trees removed
from MSU for the development of value added products that provide economic,
environmental and social benefits to the MSU community.
• Create a comprehensive campus tree management system that expands the current
tree inventory, maintenance, and removal practices to include wood recovery and
utilization. Move from "cradle-to-grave" to recycling-based “cradIe-to-cradIe” plan.
• Improve waste reduction and conserve resources. In-line with highest and best use
model of solid waste management promoted by MSU Sustainability.
• Improve the University's total capacity for carbon sequestration through long term use
of solid wood products.
Mission
Objectives

7. Michigan State University Shadows
Collection
ALMA MATER
MSU, we love thy
shadows
O'er ivy covered halls;
Beneath the pines we'll
gather

8. Objectives
• Create a unique educational program based in
the Department of Forestry providing
undergraduate and graduate training; real-world
experience in urban wood processing,
repurposing and marketing.
• Increase community awareness of our urban
forest resource.
• Develop a self-supporting income stream which
will return profits generated from the sale of
wood items to support educational programing
and the planting of more trees on campus.

9. Lumber
• Average of 300 trees are removed per year.
• 17,000 bdft have been processed in the past year.
• 16,000 approximate bdft are currently available in log form.
• 8,000 bdft of kiln dried lumber is available for products.
• 2,600 bdft of lumber has been shipped to local producers to date.

10. Kiln
• 10,000 bdft 45 year old steam-operated kiln.
• Operated by students under guidance of Dan Brown, Wood Recovery
Coordinator.

11. Products
Currently working with 7 Michigan producers.

12. Budget
Start-Up Costs
• Initial Milling and Drying = $35,000
• Manufacturing = $35,000
• Project Management = $15,000
Committed Funds for Year One
• Surplus Store & Recycling = $70,000 (Production)
• Sustainability = $50,000 (Forestry Kiln Repair and Purchase of Portable Mill)
• Forestry = $50,000 (Project Management)

13. Year One and Two Outcomes
• Break-even on initial investments by Forestry and Surplus Store
& Recycling.
• Reduce production costs.
Year Three Outcomes
• Return of net revenue to Landscape Services for tree
maintenance and planting.
• Develop education model and scholarships.