environmentally friendly lumber

Shannon Norwood

SOC 202 – Current Event Log 3

09/01/06


On LexisNexis there was an article published on August 30, 2006 about environmentally friendly lumber. This article was from the Times Colonist in Victoria, British Columbia. (http://libproxy.uncg.edu:2084/universe/printdoc) Mike Vitt who is the forestry program manager for Ecotrust Canada wants consumers to use lumber that has been harvested in an ecologically and environmentally sensitive manner. The main problem is that consumers and suppliers are hesitant to be the first to commit to the new concept.

There is a forest certification that helps consumers identify ethical and environmental timber products. There is certain criterion that lumber companies must abide by for the wood to be certified. Some of the criteria are setting aside no cutting areas, strictly restrict use of chemicals, and no burning or disposal of wood-waste debris, which is to be left in its natural state.

I think the use of this new green wood is a great idea. I can understand the hesitance from some consumers because it is a new product but that happens with many products when they first come out. This new green wood would do wonders for forests all over the world. The forest destruction rate would decrease and the environment would benefit from this green wood. For an extra bit of money consumers can not only buy lumber but help the environment at the same time.