Brinkman History

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.