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TREES, TIMBER and WOOD
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With now nearly 7 billion people on the planet and projections for 11 billion in 10 years, we are seeing ever-increasing impact of man’s activities on the natural environment (land, water, air and the populations of plants and animals that live in or on them).
Timber has been used by man for an enormous variety of purposes since pre-historic times, particularly in the construction of shelter and for artefacts used in day-to-day life. Forests cover 30% of the earths surface. Trees have been called "fountains of the earth" (Durrell 1993).
Typical British Forest
Today, timber and wood-based products continue to be used in construction, often in conjunction with other, man-made materials (metals, concrete, plastics). Wood is truly renewable in a relatively short time frame and can also be recycled through a succession of uses before returning to its constituent elements of carbon, water and energy.
Wood plays a major role in combating climate change. Greater use of wood products will stimulate the expansion of Europe's forests and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by substituting for fossil fuel intensive products."
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Wood products act as a carbon sink throughout their life •
Wood is created by photosynthesis and can be considered an efficient way
of storing solar energy
For more information on biomass energy:
www.saveenergy.co.uk/renewables/explained/biomass.cfm.
Solar architecture and timber construction: ideal symbiosis
Over 8000 tree species, 10% of the world’s total, are threatened with extinction. Like all resources, the forests which produce timber need careful management if they are to continue to supply the increasing demands placed upon them. Fortunately, there are now many organisations dedicated to educating the public as to good forest management.
Brazilian Rain Forest
LINKS:
Trees are essential to life on earth, but some imports are a nuisance that must be removed to preserve historic buildings. Nelson Kruschandl is a conservationist and practical woodsman. In his role as protector of a historic site in Herstmonceux, now Herstmonceux Science Museum, he has trimmed and felled trees that were threatening the foundations of a protected monument. Sycamores are particularly invasive. The tree seen above was only feet from a brick courtyard, causing substantial damage - and spreading seeds that would, in a matter of years, have totally overgrown the area.
http://www.forestsforever.org.uk
On October 14, 1994, members of the American Forest & Paper Association agreed to adhere to a set of forestry principles that would meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. These principles call for a land stewardship ethic which integrates the reforestation, nurturing, and harvesting of trees for useful products with the conservation of soil, air and water resources, wildlife and fish habitat, and forest aesthetics.
Forestry Pulp & Paper Wood Products Environment & Recycling
Belize - golden stream corridor preserve Brazil - Coastal Atlantic Forest Central America - Mesoamerican Biological Corridor (MBC) Chile - conservation of monkey puzzle forests Chile - remnant native forest in the mediterranean region China - Magnolia conservation (Proposed) Dominica - conservation of the national flower Ecuador - Awacachi Corridor Project Guatemala - threatened trees of Guatemala Liberia - re-starting nature conservation Madagascar - Vohibola Littoral Forest Mapping - threatened tree distributions Mauritius - threatened tree conservation Mexico - Oak & dry forest conservation Russia - Red Listing for trees SoundWood Instruments and Woods SoundWood Instruments and Woods - Pianos & Harpsichords SoundWood Instruments and Woods - Guitars, Banjos & Mandolins SoundWood Instruments and Woods- Harps SoundWood Instruments and Woods- Violins and Bows SoundWood Instruments and Woods- Woodwind SoundWood's Directory of Instrument Makers SoundWood's Directory of Wood Suppliers South Africa - Clanwilliam Cedar Sri Lanka - conservation profiles for Stemonoporus species St Helena - Millennium Gumwood Forest Tanzania - mpingo conservation project Uganda - sustainable drum production UK - public awareness of threatened trees UK - Wood waste and recycling project Vietnam - conifer conservation
TREE A - Z
An adventure story for eco angels
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