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May precious wood from the tropics be used at all?
May precious wood from the tropics be used at all?
Tropical timber is generally defined as a large group of wood species that grow in tropical and subtropical forests in South and Central America, Asia and Africa and often originate from primary rainforests.
Are rainforests being destroyed by the harvesting and export of such timber?
The ongoing deforestation of tropical forests is a very damaging intervention in the natural environment of these countries, the effects of which can also be felt here in Europe. The climate and the water cycle in our country are affected, destruction of rainforests leads to environmental damage and disasters in these regions and can have a global impact.
With only approx. 15-20 % of the timber harvested from tropical wood being exported, its use as an export good plays only a very small role, whereas the vast majority of wood resources are used in the respective countries themselves for all kinds of purposes, with approx. 80-90 % of the wood typically being used in these countries or their immediate neighbors. Only a relatively small amount (approx. 15 - 20 %) is exported to Europe, and of this amount, Germany accounts for less than 1 % in total. Our range of very rare and special exotic woods, on the other hand, accounts for another 0.1% of these exotic woods imported to Germany, an absolutely negligible proportion in contrast to the large quantities used for short-lived fashionable furniture, especially garden furniture, patios and other consumer goods.
In addition, a much greater destruction of rainforests is taking place through radical deforestation for (palm oil) plantations and cattle breeding areas, where the resulting wood can be used once, but then the primeval forest areas are lost to the ecosystem forever. Furthermore, rainforests also represent the largest genetic pool on earth with a unique diversity of species worth protecting.
Why is tropical wood used at all in Europe when there is plenty of wood growing here?
Wood species from the tropics have very special properties that native wood species do not have. For example, resistance and durability are often many times higher. The mechanical strength and resistance to water is so much higher that there are often no domestic alternatives. Particularly in hydraulic engineering or public buildings such as bridges, towers, footbridges and paths and, more recently, entire houses, these woods impress with their hardness and weather resistance, whereas domestic wood often only exists with environmentally harmful and costly problematic chemical impregnations.
However, tropical woods are often particularly valued for their attractiveness, beauty, grain, color and structure, and for certain applications they are difficult or impossible to replace. If you imagine a clarinet or flute without grenadilla, a violin or a cello without ebony, you can see how deeply rooted the use of such woods has been in our culture for centuries.
No more tropical timber to save the tropical forest?
Tropical forests can only be saved if they are managed sustainably. Tropical forests lose their value for the population of these countries if tropical timber is no longer sold. The forestry and timber industry for using the forests will then no longer function, and many people in these areas will lose the livelihoods they have enjoyed for centuries.
Respectful and sustainable use will not destroy tropical forests, but rather contribute to their conservation.
The destruction of primary rainforests, which are often thousands of years old, often has mundane reasons: Poverty and the food requirements of an ever-growing population lead to forests being converted into arable land through slash-and-burn agriculture, and the need for firewood among this population also leads to ever more deforestation. Only sustainable use by removing individual trees while protecting the rest of nature can achieve a truly sustainable benefit for the inhabitants through the proceeds from the sale of mature trees, and not the clearing of entire forest areas.
Buying tropical wood despite a guilty conscience?
Valuable and durable exotic wood is regularly used in a long-term and responsible manner. Musical instruments are not thrown away after a few years, nor are fine knives, writing instruments such as pens, fountain pens or other high-quality, individually produced handicrafts. These often outlast generations due to their high value and are therefore truly sustainable products.
Tropical timber is generally defined as a large group of wood species that grow in tropical and subtropical forests in South and Central America, Asia and Africa and often originate from primary rainforests.
Are rainforests being destroyed by the harvesting and export of such timber?
The ongoing deforestation of tropical forests is a very damaging intervention in the natural environment of these countries, the effects of which can also be felt here in Europe. The climate and the water cycle in our country are affected, destruction of rainforests leads to environmental damage and disasters in these regions and can have a global impact.
With only approx. 15-20 % of the timber harvested from tropical wood being exported, its use as an export good plays only a very small role, whereas the vast majority of wood resources are used in the respective countries themselves for all kinds of purposes, with approx. 80-90 % of the wood typically being used in these countries or their immediate neighbors. Only a relatively small amount (approx. 15 - 20 %) is exported to Europe, and of this amount, Germany accounts for less than 1 % in total. Our range of very rare and special exotic woods, on the other hand, accounts for another 0.1% of these exotic woods imported to Germany, an absolutely negligible proportion in contrast to the large quantities used for short-lived fashionable furniture, especially garden furniture, patios and other consumer goods.
In addition, a much greater destruction of rainforests is taking place through radical deforestation for (palm oil) plantations and cattle breeding areas, where the resulting wood can be used once, but then the primeval forest areas are lost to the ecosystem forever. Furthermore, rainforests also represent the largest genetic pool on earth with a unique diversity of species worth protecting.
Why is tropical wood used at all in Europe when there is plenty of wood growing here?
Wood species from the tropics have very special properties that native wood species do not have. For example, resistance and durability are often many times higher. The mechanical strength and resistance to water is so much higher that there are often no domestic alternatives. Particularly in hydraulic engineering or public buildings such as bridges, towers, footbridges and paths and, more recently, entire houses, these woods impress with their hardness and weather resistance, whereas domestic wood often only exists with environmentally harmful and costly problematic chemical impregnations.
However, tropical woods are often particularly valued for their attractiveness, beauty, grain, color and structure, and for certain applications they are difficult or impossible to replace. If you imagine a clarinet or flute without grenadilla, a violin or a cello without ebony, you can see how deeply rooted the use of such woods has been in our culture for centuries.
No more tropical timber to save the tropical forest?
Tropical forests can only be saved if they are managed sustainably. Tropical forests lose their value for the population of these countries if tropical timber is no longer sold. The forestry and timber industry for using the forests will then no longer function, and many people in these areas will lose the livelihoods they have enjoyed for centuries.
Respectful and sustainable use will not destroy tropical forests, but rather contribute to their conservation.
The destruction of primary rainforests, which are often thousands of years old, often has mundane reasons: Poverty and the food requirements of an ever-growing population lead to forests being converted into arable land through slash-and-burn agriculture, and the need for firewood among this population also leads to ever more deforestation. Only sustainable use by removing individual trees while protecting the rest of nature can achieve a truly sustainable benefit for the inhabitants through the proceeds from the sale of mature trees, and not the clearing of entire forest areas.
Buying tropical wood despite a guilty conscience?
Valuable and durable exotic wood is regularly used in a long-term and responsible manner. Musical instruments are not thrown away after a few years, nor are fine knives, writing instruments such as pens, fountain pens or other high-quality, individually produced handicrafts. These often outlast generations due to their high value and are therefore truly sustainable products.