Deep in the heart of Louisiana’s Cajun Country, a major manufacturer of building products is making a difference for the environment, and setting the standard for responsible management of forests and their renewable resource—wood.
Founded in 1923 and based in Alexandria, La., the Roy O. Martin Co. has been certified by the Forest Stewardship Council for its responsible management of just under 600,000 acres of timberland spanning 30 parishes in some of the state’s most environmentally sensitive and culturally important areas. This includes the Atchafalaya River basin’s bottomland and swampland. These managed forests are generally of two types: hardwoods and pines. Though red oak and cypress are used for the majority of hardwood production, white oak, cottonwood, hackberry, pecan, sap gum, sycamore and ash are also utilized. In fact, ROM is a major supplier of Ash to the North American market.