Top 5 ways cutting trees can help the environment
Trees play a vital role in
providing natural carbon storage for the environment, helping to sequester it
from the atmosphere and helping mitigate climate change. Trees are important in
our goal to help stop global warming on its tracks, but the need of our country
for wood and other by-products is undeniable. Aside from this, many of our
countrymen’s livelihoods depend on the forestry sector. As such, proper
management of the aforementioned is of tantamount value.
Sustainable forest
management is the holistic approach to the problems that local forests
encounter today as it not only focuses on the well-being of the environment but
also zeroes in on the needs of the people who directly benefit from it. Among
the recommended options to maintain the forests’ health is to harvest mature
trees to make way for new ones.
Here are five ways cutting
trees can help the environment:
It does not release the carbon stored inside
Unless these trees are allowed to decay or burn, the
fear of contributing to climate change through cutting of trees is out of the
question. Matured trees that are later on processed to become wood products
continue to store that carbon and keep it out of the atmosphere for decades.
Based on a study, the net CO2 emission of wood recorded only -1,000 kilograms
per cubic meter, making it the most sustainable building material option in
terms of carbon emissions.
Wood as a raw material is renewable
Responsibly sourced wood is the only renewable raw
material there is today. This means that trees that are harvested
are 100% biodegradable and can possibly be replenished for new growth. If we
refuse to cut down trees, we’ll hinder the production of fuel and fiber needed
in providing warmth and shelter through the products derived from them.
Cutting mature trees provides regeneration
The moment forests become too crowded, there will be
increased competition among trees for light and water, which will make them
more susceptible to drought and insect attacks. Cutting mature trees provides
regeneration, improves the habitat of many species, and maintains forest health
in the long run.
Sustainable forest
management provides livelihood opportunities
Investing in the industry makes way for more jobs in
the upland and rural areas as it requires an abundant amount of manpower to
harvest and process wood. An increase in Sustainable Forest Management income-generating
projects means more revenue to farmers and workers which will provide
additional taxes to the government while preserving the environment.
Wood produces
essential products
Wood products come in many forms such as lumber,
paper and pulp, chemicals, food, furniture, etc. One can only imagine life
without it, giving up common necessities such as toilet paper and reading
materials.
One of the organizations
pushing for sustainable forest management is the Philippine Wood Producers
Association (PWPA). They believe that by ensuring that there is a balance
between the needs of the people and the viability of the forests, a more
prosperous and sustainable future for the entire country can be achieved. They
continually promote the market of wood, which when harnessed sustainably, can
be an important driver for growth and development for many communities, and by
extension for the entire economy as well.
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