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Timber
is an ecologically sound construction material using a fraction
of the energy per tonne of building material that aluminum,
steel or concrete uses to produce. Young trees absorb vast
quantities of C02 in order to grow.
Mature trees take in much less CO2.
With good conservation the mature trees are harvested to allow
young trees to grow. The vast quantities of CO2
locked away in the trees cell structure will only be released
if the timber is burnt.
In a well managed softwood forest, trees grow at a fairly
uniform rate. The mature trees are felled to make way for
a new crop to be planted. As the trees grow the small twigs
protruding from the trunk underneath the crown are trimmed,
this produces timber of high quality where sections can be
produced with very small knots. Woodlands are usually felled
in a patchwork fashion to create wind breaks and cover to
allow wildlife safe passage from one area to another.
In a well managed hardwood forest, trees are selectively felled
so that only the mature and financially viable ones are removed.
Trees are selected and marked well in advance of being felled
so that access paths can be planned to remove them from the
forest. The paths are kept as narrow as possible through the
forest so as to allow the surrounding trees to naturally re-seed
the area when the selected trees have been removed thus having
minimal impact on wildlife. |
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| A well
managed softwood forest |
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