Does it still affect the environment if a tree falls in a forest and no one is there to witness it?
Naturally, sustainability is essential for a planet that will last. It's much easier said than done, though. Especially when it comes to sustainable timber and deforestation. Even sustainability itself isn't always clear-cut. Since the dawn of time, humans and animals have used wood, a valuable resource. Hardwood furniture is attractive and strong, natural, long-lasting, and insulating. UppWell created our indoor planet to stand out from sustainable bamboo for this reason.
The need to manufacture wood products sustainably must be emphasized more if we preserve this fantastic natural resource. So what precisely does that mean? It primarily depends on how the wood is harvested and prepared.
The sector of industrial agriculture
Industrial agriculture, a growing sector of the economy, includes deforestation. Over 18.7 million acres of forests are lost annually, according to the WWF. That is equivalent to around 27 soccer fields each minute.
This is due to a variety of factors. Deforestation is primarily done in Brazil to make new cattle farms. Deforestation is a technique used to obtain palm oil in Southeast Asia. The world's top producer of lumber for use in construction and industry in the United States. The effects of modern agriculture and deforestation on the ecosystem are predominantly detrimental. But this isn't breaking news; if you were reared in the West during the last 60 years, chances are you learned the value of trees and the importance of reducing, reusing, and recycling. But we didn't learn from our happy primary schooling how challenging it may be to discover genuine openness among corporate interests. Since we as consumers don't inquire about the origins of our goods or if the paper we use is produced responsibly corporate greed triumphs.
The justification for clearing forests is always based on financial gain. According to Rainforest Fund, the annual economic value of deforested land in Indonesia is roughly $50 billion. This is because practically every product uses palm oil, harvested from trees and exported worldwide. Deforestation is a concern since it costs the nation a lot of money just by association, making it challenging to address.
The impacts of agriculture on the rainforest
Every day, the jungle is burning quickly. According to the Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation, the Amazon rainforest is the largest and most diverse tropical rainforest in the world. One-third of all plant and animal species on Earth are found inside its 60 million acres of lush topography. In addition, the rainforest provides one-fifth of the world's freshwater. It is crucial to preserve the rainforest to maintain the Earth's sensitive ecosystems.
Unfortunately, the question of how much money can be made and how quickly has led to the destruction of rainforest environments. But destroying the Amazon rainforest has a terrible cost: it wrecks the ecology, exterminates any exposed animal species, and damages the way of life, culture, and traditions of the indigenous communities. The majority of logging carried out within the rainforest is not only illegal, but it is also not sustainable. According to the Rainforest Foundation, illegal logging practices provide 80 percent of the wood in Peru. This indicates that trees are being stolen from protected Indigenous lands or conservation areas to export and sell at the maximum possible profit.
A forest management organization
Although challenging, the battle for sustainable wood is not impossible. To ensure sustainable wood production, organizations like the Forest Stewardship Council are working for the conservation of forests. Since 1993, FSC has worked closely with affected Indigenous groups, customers, and businesses to ensure that the public is aware that the wood and paper they are using have been sourced responsibly. The FSC will continue to be the only forestry certification program that mandates engagement with regional Indigenous organizations as of 2020.
The group also meets with factory workers and loggers to approve a secure, moral, and fairly rewarded workplace. Because of the organization's stringent code of rules and inspections, the FSC is a global leader in forestry management and sustainable wood. Annual reviews, meticulous in-person interaction with workers and indigenous groups engaged, ongoing forest management, and documentation of the legal sourcing of all wood are requirements for a company to receive the FSC certification for its products. Unbelievably, all of UppWell's goods get FSC certification!
Repurposed wood
Reclaimed wood is an excellent option if you can't find a new wood product made from responsibly harvested wood. Reclaimed wood, to put it simply, is wood that has already been utilized. The demand for sustainability is increasing in tandem with the need for wood. Reclaimed wood might be the answer.
When buying recycled wood, there are several considerations to make. Considerations include age, wood type, chemicals used to treat it, previous use, and intended future use. People increasingly use reclaimed wood for do-it-yourself projects like installing a deck or making shelves. However, you don't need to be a carpenter or artist to have some fantastic things made from recycled wood. Now, individual and chain furniture stores are starting to carry items that proudly identify the timber sourced from salvaged sources.
When properly cared for, wood is highly durable and can be used for years. Who knows, the hardwood floor that former royals once walked on might have become your next furniture set. There are countless uses for sustainable wood!
