The Brinkman Story

Founded in 1970, Brinkman & Associates has grown from an initial 96,000 tree contract to an organization that employs over 1000 people per year. During that period, Brinkman & Associates has developed many key innovations in the industry

During the 1970's, contract planting gradually replaced industry and ministry hourly crews in BC. During this period, key Brinkman innovations included:

• 1970 - Onsite planting camps
• 1971 - Micro-site planting
• 1972 - Piece rate pay system
• 1973 - Hard-edged planting tools
• 1975 - Shoulder harness bags
• 1977 - Mixed species microsite planting
• 1978 - Area based planting
• 1978 - First publication of the predecessor to Canadian Silviculture Magazine
• 1979 - Tryke tree trailers

As well, Dirk Brinkman was the founding Director of the PRWA, an industry association, in 1978.

During the 1980's, Brinkman continued to innovate and add services to the repetoir available to forest managers.
Notable innovations included:

• 1981 - Standards for pesticides on seedlings
• 1982 - Silver-white tarps
• 1984 - White pine canker girdling
• 1985 - Bogy Quad Trailer
• 1987 - Power girdling

Significant policy initiatives were also undertaken in the 1980's

• 1982 - Founding Director of the Western Canada Silviculture Contractor's Association
• 1985 - Founding Director of the Ontario Silviculture Contractor's Association
• 1985 - Development of planting camp standards
• 1987 - Signator to the National Forest Strategy
• Input to the development of Free-Growing legislation in BC.

Since 1987, in addition to continuing to innovate in Canada, Brinkman began to develop a focus in tropical silviculture, based on its Canadian experience. Key innovations and new product areas in the 1990's have included:

• 1990 - Fiberglass Insulated Seedling Transporter
• 1991 - Power pruner
• 1992 - Green Tree Sleeve
• 1993 - Assistance with the establishment of the Reconciliation Forest in El Salvador
• 1994 - Rainforest Eco-plantations
• 1994 - Ecosystem restoration division founded
• 1997 - Heli video GIS/GPS data collection for ecological restoration
• 1998 - Commercial thinning operations

Policy and industry initiatives included:

• 1991 - Founding Director, Canadian Silviculture Association
• 1992-93 - Stakeholder representative at the National Forest Round Table
• 1994-95 - First Nation Forest Council Member
• 1995-98 - Forest Renewal BC steering committee member
• 1998 - Signator, National Forest Accord
• 1999 - Development of Forest Trust initiative

In the twenty first century, Brinkman continues to innovate and lead policy in silviculture. Recent developments include

• Rapid growth in tropical forestry activities
• Policy development on fertilizer handling and safety for silviculture workers
• Policy initiatives in silviculture funding
• Continued growth in First Nations partnerships

Building on 32 years of successful history and experience, Brinkman & Associates Reforestation Ltd. is continuously improving its ability to enhance the forest resource and the forest environment around the globe.

Brinkman & Associates Reforestation Ltd. © 2010