Like many finite resources, timber is something that we can easily take for granted. More than a third of the Earth’s population depends on the availability of timber, but unless we adopt more eco-friendly practices, the long-term sustainability of this resource could be placed in doubt.
The incredible thing about it, and something that many people don’t realize, is that timber is very much a sustainable resource. If a tree is felled, all it takes to replace it is to plant a seed where the old tree once stood.
Of course, timber sustainability is about more than just planting new trees. It also entails a responsibility towards wildlife and human livelihoods in forest regions. If you live in a city and a construction company decided to build a large-scale structure next to you, you’ll almost certainly feel discommoded. The same principle applies to people living in forest areas whose livelihoods are affected by the constant presence of loggers.
Sustainable timber is very practical and has a huge variety of everyday uses, such as household furniture, fencing and yard decking. All too often, we are lured by the glitzy promotions on offer from hardware chain outlets when we could instead use sustainable, recycled or reclaimed timber to make tables, chairs, flooring and so forth.
If you’d like to find out more about sustainable timber practices, then take a look at the below infographic from Crowe Sawmills. The preservation of timber as a natural resource is within our control, so let’s do what we can to promote its sustainability. As you’ll see below, it’s very easy for us all to play our part.
