Whilst we all dream of that stunning garden with a well thought out design encompassing stunning planting etc, unless you consider where the timber used to construct garden items such as pergolas, gazebos, fencing, sheds and the like came from then your gain will more than likely be somebody else`s loss.
Around the world, forests covering an area half the size of the UK are illegally cleared each year placing a large stress on the environment. As a result of this there have been significant impacts on countless species of animals and plant. In addition to this, much of these areas are home to over 1.6 billion of the world`s poorest inhabitants.
With many of the timber illegally felled making its way to the UK, the FSC is continually trying to educate people into only buying timber that has been sourced from sustainable and managed forests. For that reason, any timber used in garden construction should be stamped with the FSC logo to declare that it has been sourced from sustainably managed forests.
What does FSC Stand For?
The FSC stands for the Forest Stewardship Council. This body is internationally recognised for the promotion of the proper management of our woodlands and forests and is now responsible for managing the wood labelling scheme. Operating in over 50 countries, the FSC is supported by other organisations such as WWF and Greenpeace.
8 Great Reasons to Select FSC Timber
- Wherever you see the FSC logo, you can be sure the timber is from a well managed sustainable forest.
- Felled timber carrying the logo are guaranteed to have been replaced with new planting or allowed to regenerate naturally.
- Forests managed by the FSC place great emphasis on protecting animals and rare species. As such, many forests place exclusions zones in certain areas so as to lessen the impact on the environment.
- The FSC ensures that indigenous inhabitants of the forests are able to use the space unhindered. In addition to this, any areas designated as sacred are excluded from harvesting.
- In order to create a thriving local economy, the land owners of FSC managed forest must ensure they use local workers. In addition to this, they must provide the workers with all the necessary training and safety equipment required to carry out their roles in a safe manner.
- The FSC ensures that there will be a legacy of forests for future generations to be able to enjoy.
- All finished timber products such as wooden gates, fencing; roofing trusses etc that have been stamped with the FSC logo are traceable back to its source making it clearly identifiable thus reducing the chances of illegal timber entering the supply chain.
- The scheme is the only one in existence that is approved and endorsed by major worldwide charities such as Greenpeace and the World Wildlife Federation.
In conclusion, when making home improvements such as installing wooden gates, erecting garden sheds or even building a wooden structure such as a garden gazebo, be sure that it is stamped with the mark of trust.
