While hybrid cars and recycling are more popular, Americans may be more likely to drive hybrid cars. However hardwood floors in their living rooms and kitchens can also be crucial for climate change.
It is not known how much illegal hardwood gets into the United States. However, there are estimates ranging from $250 million to $375 millions per year. Much of it is used for high quality flooring.
The majority of illegal hardwood is found in tropical rain forests. These fragile ecosystems are rich in biodiversity and have a high level of biodiversity. Tropic hardwoods help protect the soil. By removing them, other plants can’t grow and rain can strip the soil of nutrients. Research shows that the greenhouse gas emissions from rain forests account for 18%.
The U.S. government amended The Lacey Act (its oldest wildlife protection statute) in December 2008 to discourage illegal hardwood imports. Under the amended law, anyone involved with illegal wood import, purchase, or sale is subject to up to five years imprisonment and $100,000-$500,000 in fines.
The U.S. Customs Service monitors suspicious freight, but there is too much wood imported into the U.S. for it to catch every illegal shipment. There are steps consumers can take to avoid buying illegal hardwood. Shaw, a hardwood product supplier, offers these tips to Americans who want to add beauty and value to their homes without destroying the rain forests.
– Choose hardwood made in the U.S. American-sourced hardwood not only helps the country’s economy but also ensures that the hardwood is legaly harvested from managed forests which are a renewable resource.
Exotic wood products should be avoided It is more likely that exotic woods such as mongoy or Brazilian cherry were illegally harvested than those of other species.
– Do your homework. Ask questions before buying your hardwood floor. This will ensure that the retailer sources its hardwood products legally and trustworthy.
– Look at hardwood species that are domestic. Advanced staining techniques make it possible to achieve exotic looks in woods such as maple, oak, birch, and birch that are not grown in America.
– Find eco-friendly laminates. Shaw’s Luminiere line mimics exotic woods such as Ipe heartwood or teak but does not require illegal harvesting. The laminate is also 98 percent more sustainable than hardwood products, and has a core of high-density fiber made from recycled wood.
For more information, please visit www.shawfloors.com.
