What wood shall I buy?

[biffvernon]

From time to time I try to heap opprobrium on anyone who suggests using anything other than a home-grown timber. Here's why:

The £700 million trade is 'one of the best kept secrets', say campaigners, with consumers largely unaware they are buying illegally felled timber

The UK has only one year left to get ready for new EU rules designed to stop the import and sale of illegally logged wood, timber and paper - but is it ready?

From March 2013, companies importing timber into the EU will be required to keep evidence documenting where the wood has come from. In practice this means companies will have to do as much as they can to ensure their timber is legal. If they can't prove this 'due diligence' they will be liable for prosecution, which could lead to a fine and ban on trading.

However, with the onus on individual countries to enforce the rules and loopholes already exposed, campaigners fear sales of illegal wood will continue.

With an estimated £700 million worth of illegally logged timber bought by consumers every year, WWF estimates the UK is the biggest market in terms of value in Europe. This is largely because it buys so much both directly and indirectly from countries with illegal felling problems, such as the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

The rest: http://www.theecologist.org/News/news_analysis/1255591/uk_shamed_as_appetite_for_cheap_timber_sees_it_top_sales_of_illegal_wood.html

 

[Penners]

When I had my own furniture business I always enquired after the source of timber being offered to me by salesmen. I was told on more than one occasion, "Oh, if you want a certificate which certifies that the timber comes from sustainable sources, I can easily get you one of those".

I was fairly convinced that even the certificates were probably printed on paper made from endangered tree species.

But I think we should be careful about insisting on "home-grown" timber. I would not suspect Scandinavian suppliers of sharp practices in this context - they probably have considerably more stringent sustainability laws than we do.

 

[Me!]

What are people's opinions on the sustainability of French oak?
They do seem to be doing a good job of replanting the stuff from what I can see, so I have to admit that I do use it.

 

[biffvernon]

Being a Europhile I consider France and Scandinavia as 'home'.

 

[tobydog]

The whole of our new extension was clad in French oak. The builder said that he couldn't get hold of English :? . We were rather 'green' ourselves at the time so in hindsight I think price was probably the overriding factor. It is excellent quality though.

 

[Bayliss]

Very concerning is the latest bacterial infection which is killing our oaks. Experts are still investigating cause and cure, apparently the oak can be infected and dead within seven years.

 

[Flyfisher]

Being a Europhile I consider France and Scandinavia as 'home'.

You surprise me Biff; I'd have put you down as someone regarding the entire planet as 'home'. :wink:

 

[biffvernon]

Nah, the rest of the world is my neighbour, in the biblical sense.

`Love your neighbor as yourself.' - Matthew 22:36-40.

(Allegedly - and I bet Matthew didn't spell neighbour the American way.)

 

[Flyfisher]

The way Hollywood likes to rewrite history, they probably think Matthew was American. :wink:

 

[FamilyWiggs]

Being a Europhile I consider France and Scandinavia as 'home'.

Good God, man! France? :shock:

Despite currently being domiciled in North Wales, as a Hampshire Hog I view anything outside of the Home Counties with deep suspicion. :shock:

There was discussion on the Today programme this morning with some Euro-wallah on whether French or German kids these days think of themselves as European first and French/German second. The view was that they do.

I can't see that happening with British kids (and I suspect French and German kids don't either). Indeed, I think these days they're more likely to say they''re English, Welsh, Scots or N'aarch than British.

 

[Me!]

currently being domiciled in North Wales

Hmmm, Wales, or Pays de Galles as the French call it. That's Galles as in Gallic and Gaul and Asterix, ... looks like you are really living in a French outpost!

 

[biffvernon]

Vernon was a mate of William. There's a town of his name in Normandy. I'm half Viking. Mother was a Saxon, what with coming from Saxony.

 

[middi]

Rainforests need to be protected not selective european " culling" of trees, especially if they are replanted.
This " culling" would also work extremely well with rainforests, if ( by some miracle !!) it could be policed . Greed of man does not allow this, and I don't mean the poor souls with the chainsaws.

Middi