| Humans have needed wood and wood
products for a very, very long time. Protection, houses, books,
furniture, cooking, newsprint…our appetite for all things wood
is colossal. Fortunately, Mother Nature blessed our planet with
an abundance of trees. For most of humankind's existence, trees
have been nearby and plentiful.
But recently, the human consumption of trees
has grown at an alarming rate. Trees are a renewable resource,
but only if they are allowed and encouraged to grow again.
Deforestation is cutting trees down and preventing trees from
growing back. Deforestation allows humans to plant crops
and build cities, but it also shrinks the world's forests.
Replacing a tree is a time-consuming thing.
It takes many years for a tree to grow to a size that is usable.
Losing trees is a global problem. There must
be a balance between conservation and growth, between people and
forests. What if we used scientific principles, caring thought,
and common sense to manage our trees, the Earth's most important
natural resource? That's where certification comes in. Humans
must set standards and principles that take into consideration
the environment, the economy, and the people.
Certified wood is all about balance.
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