 Wood is one of the most used materials throughout human history. It offers both beauty and strength while remaining easy to manipulate. There are few purposes for which wood cannot be used. It's impossible to imagine a world without wood. Yet today's wood products, though useful and attractive, are largely obtained via unsustainable logging practices. If the current trend continues, these harvesting methods could result in our world being severely depleted of the forests we depend on for lumber, oxygen and more.
Most of our wood products come from forests harvested by a method called “clear cutting”. When a forest is clear cut, it's essentially cleared out. All trees and vegetation are removed by giant machines, some of which literally snip trees effortlessly. The result is a barren, muddy landscape of stumps and debris which is often burned and then treated with herbicides to prevent non-tree vegetation from coming back. To "restore" this land, harvesters commonly replant it with just a single variety of tree. Typically planted in evenly spaced rows to make future harvests easier, these seedlings create a massive tree farm where a biologically diverse living forest once stood.
The environmental costs of clear cutting are devastating. Of the 7.5 billion acres of virgin forest that once blanketed the earth, only half remains today, and logging threatens over 70% of that land. Every year at least 40 million additional acres disappear, endangering future tree growth.
The answer to this dilemma lies in sustainable wood products obtained from thoughtfully managed forests. These forests are never clear cut. Instead, only carefully selected trees are removed. A healthy mix of different tree species of different ages is left behind, and loggers ensure that remaining vegetation and soil are not damaged during the process. Instead of returning to cut more trees in 7-10 years (as is the case with fast-growing replacement tree farms), loggers typically wait up to 30 years to allow the forest to regenerate. The original forest is thus left largely intact to provide a healthy habitat for plants, animals, and place for people to enjoy. Economically, it provides a steady supply of lumber.
Whether you need a finished wood product, a few small pieces of lumber for a simple project, or enough wood to construct an entire home, always insist on sustainable wood. Given the benefits to the environment and our future, it's the one kind of wood you can feel good about using. As people recognize the difference sustainably certified woods can make in global environmental, the big chain stores as well as the local hardware stores have begun to offer it.
When buying furniture, there are a few tips to ensure that your wood is sustainable. Look for products certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC). The FSC is an organization that has developed sustainable standards for forest management and operates programs that verify adherence to them. Avoid all tropical hardwoods (like mahogany and teak) and woods like redwood, and Douglas-fir. In addition, many western cedars, which typically come from irreplaceable old-growth forests, should be avoided unless they are certified. Look for products made with reclaimed or "rediscovered" wood. This is wood that has been used before, so no trees are cut.
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