GREENHOUSE

Research shows the Greenhouse effect is caused largely by the burning of fossil fuels, which in turn increases the concentration of carbon dioxide in our atmosphere.

Wood is in fact a renewable resource and is made largely from solar energy.

Vigorous growing trees act as a sink and absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Trees also have the ability to store carbon in their wood fibres (known as carbon sequestration) until fire or decay releases it back into the atmosphere.

As trees mature, they become less able to absorb carbon, so it is important that they are regularly replaced with younger trees through harvesting.

The use of saw logs for items such as building products, ensures that the carbon dioxide remains stabilised for long periods, particularly when the timber is recycled. The manufacturing of products such as steel, aluminium and concrete, releases a large amount of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, and none of these substances have the ability to store carbon dioxide in the manner wood fibre can.

Rough sawn timber uses less fossil fuel energy per unit than steel, aluminium and concrete ensuring better energy consumption.

Wood is the most renewable material and the most sustainable of all primary industries. By turning our efforts towards increasing forest coverage and productivity, we can help preserve biodiversity and reduce the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.