Concerns about the environment are growing and echoing in every quarter of the world. Controlling global warming through effective reduction in carbon emissions and switching to greener in every sphere of consumption is the focus of efforts towards a sustainable future.
Construction industry by itself has a huge carbon footprint. Mining for construction materials, transportation, noise and dust during the construction process are factors pointing towards the need for switching to greener, natural materials.
Wood is one of the most natural resources and has been a material of choice for design and construction for centuries. However, illegal logging and thoughtless deforestation has cast a stigma over extensive use of wood. Apart from this perception, issues like poor quality and lack of standardization of material have led to limited use of wood in building spaces.
However, the fact is that when done right, use of wood in design and construction can actually benefit the planet profoundly.
Canada is home to 10% of the world’s total forests and B.C., which represents 50% of Canada's lumber production is a global leader in sustainable forest management. B.C. is at the forefront of demonstrating how using wood from sustainable sources can actually have an overall positive impact on the environment.
Seedlings being developed for planting in forests
B.C.’s leadership in sustainable forest management
Wood miles and CO2impact
Due to its astounding capacity to offset carbon emissions and natural properties, wood is the most promising material of the future. The important factor that one needs to bear in mind is that wood used should be responsibly sourced and certified. British Columbia, Canada offers a broad range of beautiful, high performance certified wood species and grades to suit different applications and budgets. So next time you’re planning to do build something new, make sure certified Canadian wood plays an important part in it.
A background on sustainable forest management in British Columbia (B.C.), Canada
95% of B.C.’s total 135.9 million acres forests are government-owned and only 40% of that forest is available for commercial harvest. Less than 0.5% of B.C.'s commercial forest is logged per annum. By law, all harvested areas must be regenerated with native species within a specified time frame. British Columbia is the largest exporter of forest products in the world and its forest management practices more than offset the carbon footprint generated during production and transportation of sawn lumber.
Seedlings being developed for planting in forests
B.C.: Regulating forest practices
B.C. has advanced forest policies that evolve to meet current needs and to reflect the latest research. An independent study in 2009 found that the region has some of the most demanding legislation in the world. About 95% of B.C.’s forests are publicly owned and priorities for the use of these lands are developed through community based consultation and strategic planning that establishes land use direction and objectives. B.C.’s Forest and Range Practices Act governs the activities of forest and range licenses in B.C. and legislates on-the-ground results. It is built on a foundation of professional skills and accountability and ensures public lands provide a mix of benefits such as timber, recreational opportunities, water quality, wildlife habitat and countless other values. The act requires that licensees prepare forest stewardship plans that show how operations will be consistent with objectives set by government. The regulatory regime specifies requirements to conserve soils, provide sustainable reforestation, and protect riparian areas, fish and fish habitat, watersheds, biodiversity and wildlife. It also regulates construction, maintenance and deactivation of forest roads. B.C. is well positioned to support results-based forest regulations. It has registered professionals and a multi-faceted compliance and enforcement regime.
B.C.’s leadership in sustainable forest management
British Columbia: Key forest statistics
Certifications
The programs used in B.C. – PEFC, CSA, FSC and SFI – all promote principles, criteria and objectives that are viewed around the world as the basis of sustainable forest management. Similar to B.C.’s regulatory regime, they all ensure biological diversity is conserved, timber is harvested sustainably and wildlife habitat, soils and water resources are conserved. B.C. has more third-party forest certification than any other jurisdiction except for Canada as a whole, providing added assurance of sustainable forest management* *Source: http://www.naturallywood.com/sites/default/files/Comparison-selected-forest-certification-standards-summary.pdfImpact of transportation
Wood imported from British Columbia is certified and though the distance between India and B.C. is significant, the transportation does not have a negative impact on the environment. For every container of lumber sent to India from B.C., 17,498 kgs of carbon gets taken out of the environment for the life of the products.*
Wood miles and CO2impact
Due to its astounding capacity to offset carbon emissions and natural properties, wood is the most promising material of the future. The important factor that one needs to bear in mind is that wood used should be responsibly sourced and certified. British Columbia, Canada offers a broad range of beautiful, high performance certified wood species and grades to suit different applications and budgets. So next time you’re planning to do build something new, make sure certified Canadian wood plays an important part in it.
