Site icon Concord Carpenter

FSC Lumber and Illegal logging


Image: procosara.org

Illegal logging – destroying the last Ancient Forests

I recently asked my local lumber yard manager his thoughts on FSC lumber and illegal logging.

What Does FSC Stand For?

FSC stands for Forest Stewardship Council and is an independent, non-governmental, not for profit organization established to promote the responsible management of the world’s forests.

Educating and Using FSC  Lumber

I firmly believe that we carpenters should be asking our lumber yards to carry FSC lumber as well as educating our customers to allow us to use it.

Lumber yards, carpenter and consumers need to be supporting companies who do not condone, support, or source wood from these illegal logging companies. Using FSC lumber gives you the greatest seal of approval that your wood is not illegally logged.

Scale of the Problem

Between August 2003 and 2004, the deforestation rate for the Amazon, the world’s largest tropical forest, was the second highest ever recorded. An area of 26,130 square kilometers – around the size of Belgium – was destroyed, most of it illegally.

In many forests around the world, logging still contributes to habitat destruction, water pollution, displacement of indigenous peoples, and violence against people who work in the forest and the wildlife that dwells there.

READ MORE on the deforestation of the Amazon and other forests. source: Green Peace

The worldwide increase in demand for timber products, regardless of their legality, is fueling forest destruction. For example the European Union is a significant importer of timber from regions where illegal and destructive logging is rampant.

Many consumers of wood and paper, and many forest products companies believe that the link between logging and these negative impacts can be broken, and that forests can be managed and protected at the same time. Forest Stewardship Council certification is one way to improve the practice of forestry.

Look for the FSC Label

Products carrying the FSC label are independently certified to assure consumers that they come from forests that are managed to meet the social, economic and ecological needs of present and future generations.

The market for legality verification of wood products has grown. Numerous systems and services have been developed to check, license or certify timber as legal.

Click here to read about the principles and criteria for responsible forest management.  If you work in the trades and you’re not concerned about FSC Lumber and Illegal logging you’re not informed.

Source: FSC

If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!
Exit mobile version