Sustainable forests

In an age of mass consumption and environmental vulnerability it is more important than ever too consider the impact of our actions, on an individual, community, national and international level. The UK was once a heavily forested area, as with the rest of Europe. Now the majority of the trees are gone for the same reasons the developing world is clearing forests today. Vast quantities of the Amazon are being cleared for farming, logging and grazing. The challenge today is to replenish the trees as we use them. In the developed world and some developing countries this is happening with huge success. In fact Pre-historic clearance of our woodland led us to a low point at the beginning of the twentieth century when woodland was only 5% of Britain - and falling. It is now nearly 12% - and rising. This increase is due to our various number of management systems we have in place. We call this sustainable forest management. .
A sustainable forest is a forest that is carefully managed so that as trees are felled they are replaced with seedlings that eventually grow into mature trees. This is a carefully and skilfully managed system. The forest is a working environment, producing wood products such as wood pulp for the paper / card industry and wood based materials for furniture manufacture and the construction industry. Great care is taken to ensure the safety of wildlife and to preserve the natural environment.
Sustainable forests are the result of a commonsense policy to replace trees that are felled so that forests continue to exist providing natural materials for us all. In today's society we use more wood than ever, as we harvest and produce more wood for say furniture, the supply increases and the price falls for the consumer. A good example is oak furniture, centuries ago, this wood was a highly sought after commodity, only the aristocrats and wealthy merchants would possess such exquisite items in their homes. Now, oak furniture is available for all to enjoy. From oak chairs, to desk, from oak tables to beds, anything that can be made from oak is - providing there is the demand. Basically, we are able to keep on producing a vast variation of oak furniture because we are keeping our forests sustainable. This practise will help future generations enjoy the same luxuries we have. And, it goes without saying the replanting of trees will keep us all breathing.