| In his lecture at the National Sustainable Development | | | | multitude of areas. Seedlings are economical to plant |
| Centre in St. Andrews, Scotland in April of 2009, Tim | | | | and will achieve a desirable height within twenty to |
| Rollinson, Director-General of the British Forestry | | | | twenty-five years as compared to hardwoods which |
| Commission challenged his listeners with the following | | | | are harder to manage and take decades longer to |
| after outlining the successes of the UK's | | | | regenerate. Aside from the economic advantages |
| reforestation projects as compared with | | | | pine has to offer, it is an environmentally friendly |
| deforestation in the rest of the world: | | | | wood offering stability to a watershed and a habitat |
| "How negligent would it be if we didn't do this? | | | | for wildlife. It is the world's wood: quick to grow and |
| Would our children even understand why we didn't | | | | diverse in its pleasures both economically and |
| act? I was asked to challenge you. My challenge is to | | | | environmentally. |
| ask you what needs to happen to turn today's loss | | | | Even beyond this, however, is the suitability of pine |
| into tomorrow's gain?" | | | | for the furniture industry. Pine is a beautiful wood |
| He was speaking to the fact that in many parts of | | | | with a long, wide grain and a warm, comfortable |
| the world rapid deforestation is taking place. Much of | | | | color. It is easy to work with and can easily be |
| this is due to the economics and expanding | | | | fashioned into the many styles of furniture that |
| populations of the various areas in which this is taking | | | | today's buyer demands. It is also easy to finish yet |
| place. Forests are cut and burned to provide for | | | | provides a richness to each piece that other woods |
| greater population growth. Agricultural land has also | | | | would have a harder time committing to, especially in |
| replaced many of the forests. The result, as Mr. | | | | certain styles of furniture. A wardrobe or a desk, for |
| Rollinson pointed out, is that water quality is lost, | | | | example, can be crafted into a long-lasting piece of |
| wildlife populations are threatened and the | | | | furniture in any style or finish with the use of pine. It |
| atmosphere is placed in further peril. The central point | | | | even compliments other woods that are used for |
| to his speech was that this can be reversed only | | | | inlays because of its fine but neutral tones. The |
| when we recognize the total value of our forests. | | | | consumer will find a very suitable piece of furniture at |
| Forests do not only include trees. They include people | | | | a very pleasing price when they select a pine |
| and the way people use this resource for current | | | | wardrobe or desk. |
| economic need, for recreation, relaxation and for | | | | Furniture manufacturers have been using pine for |
| esthetic value. Forests also play a major role in | | | | generations. Before the world became |
| preserving many elements of the environment. When | | | | environmentally alarmed and up to today they have |
| forests are restored people and the economy, the | | | | been responsible users of this resource. Their |
| environment and wildlife can once again achieve | | | | dedication to replanting this valuable resource has not |
| harmony even during the use of these regenerated | | | | only been good for the consumer and themselves |
| forests for lumber. | | | | but for the multitude of uses and values a forest has |
| Pine furniture manufacturers have known this for a | | | | to offer. The next time we are looking for a piece of |
| very long time. They use a wood that is one of the | | | | furniture we would do ourselves, our budgets and |
| fastest growing and economically feasible choices for | | | | the world a favor by looking at pine. |
| their craft. It is a diverse species that can grow in a | | | | |