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The Altree Process
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Altree History
The private sector, universities, and state and federal agencies have long been interested in using juniper fiber in a composite board product. When Phil Archuletta, CEO of P&M Signs, visited the Forest Products Laboratory (FPL) in 1994, he and others quickly realized the potential of a durable wood-plastic composite in the demanding highway signage market. P&M, a sign manufacturer in Mountainair, NM, with strong hiring commitments to the native community, made small prototype signs from juniper wood fiber-plastic composites. These were successfully evaluated on the Kaibab and Cibola National Forests. With a $125,000 grant from the Fund for Rural America in 1998, a team including P&M Signs, the Rocky Mountain Research Station, local NACS personnel, New Mexico State University, and the FPL began to evaluate the economics of harvesting and prototype production. FPL staff sought to integrate economic diversification and utilization goals with an enhanced understanding of the process by which lands rejuvenate following juniper extraction. To investigate the ecological impact of juniper removal and assess subsequent fine grass growth, FPL staff conducted a small demonstration project on a local ranch. Contact us for detailed findings on the cost of harvesting and tested methods of land restoration. Because of the link between rural economic health and the restoration needs of small diameter pine and juniper stands throughout the Southwest, many groups are cooperating to develop new approaches for using these resources. Current partners in the development of Altree include:
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