It is said that corporations can destroy the world’s intact forests. They have also the Power to help save them. They can make an impact by introducing zero- deforestation policies. These policies require suppliers to produce commodities such as timber, beef, palm oil, and fibres for paper in such a way that has a minimal impact on natural forests and climate. These can also introduce paper procurement policies that set ambitious targets to maximise the use of post-consumer recycled wood, pulp, paper and fibre in their products and ensure that any virgin fibre used is certified by a rigorous third-party certification system.
Sustainable consumer options: Ending worldwide deforestation demands efforts of individuals to make some difference. As a consumer, every one has a power to put pressure on companies that have bad environmental practice. Each one of us should buy recycled or certified wood products. Each one should support only zero deforestation policies, and get others to do the same. By this we send a message to companies to embrace zero deforestation policies.
Ambitious national and international policies: The governments should adopt ambitious science-based Zero Deforestation Policies across the world.
According to Green Peace International– The international community must also urgently commit to mechanisms that reduce greenhouse gas emissions from deforestation in tropical forest developing nations. A Forest for Climate is a landmark proposal for an international funding mechanism to protect tropical forests. Developing countries with tropical forests that choose to participate in Forests for Climate would make commitments to protecting their forests and in exchange would have the opportunity to receive funding for capacity-building efforts and national-level reductions in deforestation emissions. This would provide a strong incentive for developing countries to continually improve their forest protection programs.
Alternative use of timber
The Indian National Forest Policy Document 2009 has emphasized on the need of Sustainable Forest Management. Forest Management is defined as one where the economic needs of local communities are not ignored, and forests are sustained while meeting economic needs of the country and issues of the people through Scientific Forestry measures. In 1999 it was reported that protected forest areas in several parts of India including states of Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka and Jharkhand were vulnerable to illegal logging by timber mafias. However, in spite of these reports satellite data analysis and a report from the Food and Agricultural Organisation 2010 finds India has added over 4 million hectares of forest cover ranking up to 7 % between 1990 and 2010.
Going back to the British Rule one can observe that large scale felling of timber trees was started in the British Rule for ship building and making railway sleepers. Though it was the British to start framing rules for the protection of forests and defining forest ownerships, they had already cleared most of the timber trees for their purposes.
In free India cutting of timber trees continued for building and furniture both legally and illegally and today we have only counted number of timber trees. What to do now? Yes, conserve the remaining timber, grow timber trees and go for other alternatives.
Substitute Materials: One way of going for alternatives to timber is substitute the timber with other materials. Some builders now days have a range of choices for building materials than ever before.
A number of non-wood substitutes have joined markets that are preferred options for common applications. The recycled plastic lumber is found to suit well for out door furniture and decks. For flooring and counter tops the Linoleum, ceramic tile and stone can be used. Interior doors can be made from the composite pressed wood. Straw boards that are made from agriculture waste can be a substitute for particle board in carpet underlayment, cabinet carsasses and shelves.
Applications of advanced framing techniques in construction: The development in building technology is encouraging and promoting advanced framing techniques as a way to reduce use of timber. This technique is called as Optimum Value Engineering which eliminates framing elements that are not structurally necessary.
Engineered lumber such as glue laminated beams, and finger jointed studs make better use of wood fibre than dimensional lumber. However, these products use large amounts of chemical adhesives, which may be cause for concern.
Reduce Waste: One should check his material take-offs for excessive wastage. It should be planned to make better use of cutoffs and scraps. For the crew one should make it easy to use scraps by keeping it organised to the stack of new lumber
Use of Reclaimed Wood
Giving wood a second life is now a growth industry in the U.S. Salvagers dredge logs from the bottoms of rivers and lakes. Others carefully deconstruct old barns, factories and schools. Large beams are re-milled into flooring or trim. The quality of reclaimed often exceeds anything available in the current market.
Going for Certified Wood
A growing number of lumber companies are submitting their forest management practices to the scrutiny of third-party certification agencies. These agencies confirm the use of sustainable forestry practices and the distribution chain that moves the lumber to market. This assures consumers that wood is accurately represented. Some of the first companies to adopt certification have been practicing sustainable forestry for decades. Certified wood can substitute for conventional dimensional lumber directly. It can be framing lumber, decking or panel products, such as plywood and oriented strand board.
Search for alternative structures: If someone is really serious about saving timber, the person should replace the basic wood frame with something else like- insulated concrete forms, autoclaved cellular concrete, and insulated structural panels.
