Digital standing-sale – the best option for forest owners?

Forstify offers all users of the platform the option to buy or sell raw timber both felled and standing. To do this, you only need to select the corresponding option at the right place within an offer or a request.

What types of timber sale are there?

In marketing, we fundamentally distinguish between different types of raw-timber sale. The following models can be represented via Forstify from both the supplier and the buyer side. Forstify also supports a fully automated matching process of supply and demand via a search agent.

The different types of round-timber trading differ in particular in the timing of the sale (before or after felling) as well as in terms of responsibility for processing (felling, skidding, transport):

• Felled post-sale or, in short: already felled timber is ready to go

This option refers to timber that has already been felled and is ready for collection. The raw timber is felled, skidded and piled by the supplier (or a service provider) and usually offered “free forest road” by the supplier. The buyer organises the transport and can collect it at the agreed time.

• Felled pre-sale or, in short: timber is still standing and is only provided after the sale

In contrast to post-sale, the timber is still standing at the time of purchase and is felled, skidded and piled after the contract is concluded by the supplier (or a service provider) and usually offered “free forest road”. Here too, the buyer takes care of the logistics and collects the timber independently.

• Standing pre-sale / standing-sale or, in short: the sale of standing trees

Without doubt the most sustainable form of raw-timber sale for both parties is the standing-sale. The timber is sold standing, and the buyer carries out or organises the harvesting, skidding and transport themselves. As a result, only those trees are felled that are sure to have a subsequent use.

Which form of timber sale is the best?

This question cannot be answered across the board. Many factors influence the best decision on how to sell timber. These include the type of timber sought or offered, as well as the quality and quantity. Digital standing-sale brings the advantage here that special assortments can be offered and only harvested once a suitable buyer has been found. In addition, digital standing-sale can be handled quickly and easily for the forest owner when processing damaged timber, for example from forest areas affected by bark beetle. For buyers looking for larger quantities, this option can also be very interesting – especially when offers are found with the help of Forstify's automated search agent, eliminating the laborious search for suppliers. On balance, standing-sale offers – in addition to tax advantages and the sustainable idea – a more relaxed trade between all parties in most cases. Together with buyers and service providers, suppliers can plan in advance which type of timber can be felled, when and where.