Frequently Asked Questions

We are proud to highlight the beauty of 10 native species of trees from across Oregon through our:

• Wide Plank Engineered Flooring

• Zena EdgeGrain™ Tiles

• Custom wall and ceiling paneling (contact us for more details)  

• Wood vents and cold air returns

• Hardwood stair parts 

It is, and it’s spectacular. Zena Forest is a large, mixed species forest just outside Salem, Oregon. It is the largest patch of contiguous forest remaining in the Willamette Valley. Our family has been sustainably managing this forest for more than 30 years, and has always managed for the overall health of the ecosystem: flora, fauna and soil. In recent decades, we’ve been paying special attention to increasing the complexity and resilience of the forest to withstand the effects of climate change.

Zena Forest Products is the only company in Oregon that has integrated all aspects of the timber process—from sustainable forest management and harvesting practices in our forest to using our on-site mill to create beautiful, eco-conscious, premium flooring, vents, and stair treads ideal for both commercial and residential spaces. 

Our legacy of sustainable forestry is rooted in the 100-year-old trees that inhabit our 1,300-acre Forest Stewardship Council® certified property, which is protected by a conservation easement stipulating that the forest remains a working ecosystem in perpetuity.

In addition to wood we source from our own forest, we also thoughtfully source wood from across the State of Oregon to support regenerative forestry practices and those stewarding tomorrow’s forests. 

We harvest individual trees throughout our 1,300-acre property, felling the second-best trunk in each cluster, and reducing competition for light and nutrients so the remaining trees can thrive. This continuous, careful forest management process takes time, combined with an intimate knowledge of the environment, yet the results last for generations. It prompts a gradual increase in total growth while protecting and cultivating the carbon contained within the forest floor and soil, so the trees endure for another 100 years or more.

Through regenerative and restorative forestry, we carefully manage every step in the process to create an ecologically sustainable and economically viable forest—from the beginning stages of native seedling plantation to producing beautiful hardwood flooring. You can rest assured that every board is grown in Oregon and sustainably managed.

Selective Logging
No clear cuts, we remove struggling trees to make room for trees that are thriving. In essence, we are “adding by subtracting.”

Care for Soil
Soil is our capital. We log with permanent skid trails, ensuring no machinery on the forest floor, which preserves the sponginess of the soil. Once soil has been compacted by heavy machinery, it never quite recovers. Uncompacted soil is a better environment for plants and retains groundwater.

Minimal Herbicides
We remove invasives by hand with machetes, and only use herbicides in very limited and targeted cases for dealing with a couple hard to manage invasive species.

Waste Management
Our entire facility uses a normal household garbage can, which we share with two households. It’s rarely full. None of our manufacturing byproducts go to the landfill. Our sawdust is used by mushroom growers. Small cutoffs power our kilns’ furnace, get sold as firewood or are donated to local school woodshop programs.

Conscientious Sourcing
We use our purchasing power to encourage sustainable forest practices. We give preference to logging projects where hardwoods are being retained and restored, and we pay 30 percent more for these logs. It’s our way of making sure there will be hardwoods in the valley and across Oregon long into the future.

Policy advocacy. We are actively engaged in natural resources and land use policy. Healthy forests provide a wide range of benefits to all Oregonians, and are a diminishing, yet vital part of what makes Oregon so great. Part of our mission is to make sure these forests are still around to support future generations.

While the Zena Forest is our anchor, main source of resources, and testing ground for innovation, we’re proud to source wood from beyond the bounds of the Zena Forest. By thoughtfully sourcing wood from across Oregon, we can ensure we’re having a meaningful impact on forestlands throughout the Pacific Northwest.

Our primary source of hardwoods comes from our own Zena Forest, an FSC® certified forest that we have stewarded since 1984. To further supplement the wood from Zena, we thoughtfully source lumber from forests throughout Oregon. By collaborating with landowners, tribes, and regenerative forest projects, we leverage our purchasing power to actively encourage the preservation and restoration of hardwood forests through careful, selective management.

We are proud to highlight the beauty of 10 native species of trees from across Oregon through our:

• Wide Plank Engineered Flooring

• Zena EdgeGrain™ Tiles  

• Wood vents and cold air returns

• Hardwood stair parts 

• Custom wall and ceiling paneling (contact us for more details)

We could go on and on about this! Oregon White Oak is the most dense of all domestic oaks, making it one of the most durable flooring options out there. It is also prettier than its Eastern and European species, with warmer tones, brighter sapwood and more figure. It has tight cell structure, which reduces the rate it gives up or takes on moisture.

The other thing that makes Oregon White Oak special is its rareness. Oregon White Oak habitat has been reduced to less than five percent of its historical territory. That’s why we’re so passionate about caring for our own oak trees, and why we use our purchasing power to support landowners who are retaining and restoring hardwoods.

Read more about this amazing wood on our blog. | Read the Article |

At Zena Forest Products, we have a genuine regard for the unique needs of clients, and the aesthetic they have in mind, so we craft hardwood products with exacting quality assurance standards. Each board is handled, milled and processed individually by our team before shipping. This intimate understanding of the client project (whether a home or commercial space) enables us to provide personalized recommendations, solve issues, stay nimble, and add unique value from hardwood sourcing to installation.