Just a few facts on the long term impact of using natural wood products.
Cedar
- Canada's rate of deforestation is zero and has been for over two decades. (United Nations FAO State of the World's Forest's report, issued in March 2007).
- Canada has world-leading forestry practices and regulatory regime. (Conclusion of an independent third party report conducted by Dr. Benjamin Cashore, Associated Professor of Sustainable Forest Policy, and Chair of the Forest Certification at the Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies.)
- Canada is home to 30% of the world's boreal forest.
- 93% of Canada's forests are publicly owned and regulated. This provides assurance that companies operating on these lands are bound by: Comprehensive legislation and enforcement; 20-25 year specific annual operational plans; and forest management plans subject to public review prior to approval.
- Only one quarter of Canada's forests are managed for commercial use. The vast majority (70%) of the boreal region remains unaccessed. Of this, only 0.5% (1 million hectares) is harvested annually. By law, all harvested areas must be promptly regenerated.
- Canada has more protected forest than any other country in the world. (over 40 million hectares- Source: A Global Overview of Forest Conservation, WCMC, UNEP, CIFOR, 1997)
- Canada has the most hectares of independently certified forests (75% of which is boreal) in the world.
- Canada is home to over 40% of the world's certified forests, and its area of certified boreal forest is three times larger than any other country's area of certified total forest.
- Canad's forest products industry is a global leader in climate change mitigation. Members of the Forest Products Association of Canada have reduced their greenhouse gas emissions by 44% since 1990 - seven times Canada's Kyoto targets.
*Although wood products make up 47% of all raw materials manufactured in the United States, its share of energy consumption manufacturing is only 4%.
CO2 Emissions and Common Building Products
At least 60% of all climate change can be attributed to CO2 emissions resulting from human activities - mostly the burning of fossil fuels. Since the energy used to create the materials in a house or building is typically 22% of the total energy used over the life of a structure, these materials are worth some consideration.
Below is a chart of common building materials and the average CO2 emissions produced per metric ton of material.
*Results show that the manufacture of wood materials uses 53% less energy than steel and 120% less energy than concrete.
Redwood
Currently there are 1.29 million acres of commercial redwood forests in northern California.
Of these 1.29 million acres, 80% have been certified by an independent third party. This certification ensures that the redwood products coming from these areas have been harvested in an environmentally sound manner. The basic requirements of the certification program are based upon:
- Sustainable forestry
- Prompt reforestation
- Protection of water quality
- Enhancement of wildlife habitat
- Minimization of the visual impact of harvesting
- Protection of unique sites
- Improvements in wood utilization
All other privately owned redwood forest in northern California are subject to California's Forest Harvesting Regulation in North America, which requires that any company owning commercial forests greater than 50,000 acres prepare a Sustained Yield Plan. These plans must project an equal balance of growth and harvest over a 100-year period while ensuring sustainability of all forest resources, including wildlife, watershed and soil.
The supply of redwood has been a concern for many years. Many people assume that because of the overwhelming size of the redwood tree they are irreplaceable and should be a protected tree in the United States. The Society of American Foresters estimated that coastal redwoods occupied no more than 100,000 acres of forestland in 1964. This total area increased to 181,000 acres in 1978. Today, more than 229,000 acres are set aside in parks, reserves, campgrounds, wilderness areas and nature study areas for public use. The Society also estimates that there are more coastal redwoods in existence today than when logging began in the region. Redwoods are the fastest growing commercial softwood trees in the United States. Trees that are four to ten years old normally grow two to six feet per year. Responsible logging practices will provide an abundant supply of redwood for many years to come.