Trees vs. Timber

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This is created in order to stop cramming up RBP.

Basically, it's about cutting down trees, living trees, timber and all that jazz.

I feel that cutting down trees, especially in the 21st century, when there is a wide spectrum of materials available, is not something to brag about and that it should be avoided, as much as possible.

Wood is a material with many excellent qualities - but I for one would have nothing against not having a single wooden item around. Sure, it's very beautiful, "warm", calming. It is precious - and it was once a part of something alive... maybe something that has been around for hundreds of years. I would even claim that wood - and paper - number among my favorite materials - because wood was once a tree. But, like I said, I wouldn't mind not having a single wooden item - if it came from cutting a tree just for the sake of cutting it.

I'm not a total fruitcake - I understand that there are instances - such as illness of a tree, or potential hazard (like a near dead tree whose roots are loosening and the tree might collapse on someone's home or something) where cutting down trees is necessary - and I don't dispute that.

Also I understand that there are probably very real and reasonable (?) obstacles to the complete stop in the use of wood and I cannot argue that - it is impossible, in this time and with this state of societies across the globe. 6000000000+ people are not reducible to a single, average set of variables - nor can they all be persuaded to embrace a single idea.

I simply feel that it should not be difficult to reduce the use of wood in modern society - by replacing it with other materials, or say, switching to e-forms instead of paper.

For me, a living tree is worth far more then a sum of its parts.

For one, it's alive. Even without the aspect of it being, IMHO, one of the most magnificent living forms present on Earth, it has its usage - both in oxygen production, preventing erosion, maintaining microclimate, being part of various eco-systems. Keeping Koalas happy and all that jazz.

I have deliberately kept this thread out of the Alleys (although, like some Planescape Border town, it might end up sliding there ) because I'm sure that there has been quite a few ecology related topics in the Alleys, ripe for fuming. This one is simple.

Living tree or timber? Any and all opinions and reasons welcome.

Discuss away. Joking answers and smilies also welcome

 

See, here's the thing...I feel that cutting down "Old Growth" trees is a bad thing...even though Old Growth trees produce the best looking lumber. Also, the removal of forests is also a bad thing. However, I have no problem with cutting down trees that were planted by humans for the sole purpose of being cut down. Also, I have no problem with cutting down trees in a populated area either, as the loss of a few trees isn't going to hurt anything.

Bottom line: They're all timber just waiting to be harvested.

 

I agree that cutting old growth and forests is bad, and even in populated areas it should be minimized only to what is necessary. In my yard (about 1/3 of an acre)I have a eucalyptus tree (if anyone cuts that down, I'm gonna mangle 'em, I like harvesting the fragrant leaves), several crepe myrtles, a sweet gum (we have to watch that one, they have fairly short life spans for trees), a few pines, an oak tree of some sort, and a pindo palm. We used to have three pindo palms, but one was threatening the house, and another was threatening the oak tree. Those got removed and sold to someone else, since they sell well. We also have several chinese tallows we're trying to kill, since both the city and the county are trying to eradicate them.

My city has pretty strict regulations about tree removal, they want to keep the "tree city" designation.

 

Timber ! !
Really, most of the items you would replace wood products with aren't recyclable as wood products are.
Paper bag or plastic at the store?
Cardboard box or plastic?
Houses would be much more expensive. Also doing any alteration to your house after it is built will be very expensive.
Want to add a deck? Either ugly plastic or way more expensive steel & concrete.
No more magazines or newspapers or books.
No more TP !
Cloth & fabric? No more rayon !
Wood is in toothpaste, Hairspray, shampoos, lipstick, Aspirin !
Lots of spices & cleaning products come from wood.

In fact if we could find a way to run cars on wood we would be better off as wood is a renewable resource.

Now certain old-growth trees should be preserved but with proper management there is no reason not to utilise this resource to it's greatest use.
Just my(ok more like 4 dollars worth)

 

Trees and timber are resources, and like other resources, have historically not been wwell maintained and efficianelty used.

I am not opposed to selective harvests of timber to get the lumber that is needed. And the parts of the trees that are unsuitable for lumber can go for Firewood, mulch or pulp and paper. I also think that reducing the need for wood products where feasible, reusing what can be re-used, and recycling what can be recycled are part of the strategy preserve what trees we can.

The important thing is that more trees are planted afterwards. That way, the ecological impact is reduced and a steady supply of trees are there for future needs.

 

If harvested properly, timber is a renewable resource. In general, the alternatives are not. I have to side with using wood responsibly.

 

Timber is a renewable resource, that is true.

However, I am not convinced that right now, it is being treated as such - with a sound strategy for its replenishment. Another point - it replenishes slowly and is consumed at a much higher rate.

It is rather absurd to argue against use of timber, if it is handled responsibly and with sound, long term planning. However, in a majority of cases, IMHO, that is not the case.

Planting trees to replace those cut and to expand the already existing forest fond - in such a situation, cutting and use of trees is reasonable.

But just chopping one down because: it's in a way, or it's obscuring the view or something - that I have a problem with.

I suppose using it responsibly is the right answer to this - chopping down trees which are grown specifically for that use, with sound replenishment strategy and leaving the forests and old trees alone?

That sounds reasonable to me. Thanks for the opinions, guys. You've helped me see some aspects of this that I had not considered on my own.

 

Chopping down rainforests is just damn plain stupid for it's short-sightedness. No matter what the reason, it's not nearly reason enough. Unless the trees themselves start attacking people

 

You sound like Durkon from OOTS!

My dad was a logger - -he claimed that they tried very hard back in his day to ensure that wood was treated like a renewable resource. But such is not the case everywhere, I'm afraid.

 

+12 flaming chainsaw of tree-bane ! !
To the pain ! !

Errr . . . sorry, think my evil side slipped loose there for a minute.

As long as there are proper replanting programs then no problems however when the is just clear cutting, problems occur.

 

it isn't


I think I'm pretty fine with the whole tree-farming business - I mean ireckon its gonna cause a hell of a lot less harm than the manufacturing of other materials like plastic or metals. Also it acts as a bit of a carbon sink, as the CO2 is taken out of the air, incorporated into the wood and sent off to houses. This would happen at a much faster rate than in old growth forrests. The disposal process is also a lot more environmentally friendly than with metal/plastic.

 

Trees stop using more CO2 than they produce after... 63 years, I believe (according to Wired), so technically older trees are worse for the environment than new ones. So as long as we replant them, cutting down trees is actually good for the environment (theoretically; not taking into account erosion, etc).

Nonetheless, I prefer living trees, they are quite beautiful.

 

Stu, go here :http://www.woodmagic.vt.edu/html/Activities/dw9.htm

 

Um Martaug, Please tell me there was Toilet Paper in that bathroom too. I don't know about these people, but I sure need it...