Ancient forests are the original or primary forests that cover 7% of the planet. Almost 80% of the world’s old-growth forests have been exploited or completely destroyed. The ever increasing demand of wood products, like paper, has increased the number of trees being chopped down. As trees and their forests are utilized for their wood material, rapid deforestation threatens our ancient forests.
Most of the degradation is due to human industrial activity like logging, land clearing for agricultural use, and development for oil, gas or hydroelectric energy. With only 20% remaining, these ancient trees, and the plants, animals, and way of life for cultures that they sustain, are at risk of disappearing forever. Each year, about 25 million acres of ancient and endangered forests in the world are being cleared.
Protecting Our Endangered Forests
There are a number of groups dedicated to protecting our forests. Ancient Forest International (AFI) is a non-profit organization that aims to protect and conserve primary forests, as well as preserve the ecosystems that depend on these forests. They focus their protection on rainforests and ecologically-critical forestlands that are threatened due to high levels of exploitation.
The Sierra Club, the oldest and largest US environmental organization, is dedicated to stopping the destruction of forests and their ecosystems. They fight against logging activities that are not environmentally sustainable and endanger remaining old-growth or ancient forests. In connection with protecting the forests, the Sierra Club also promotes environmentally acceptable alternative materials such as recycled products.
The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) is a non-profit organization that fights global deforestation by promoting responsible forest management. They also help to prevent natural forests from being converted into plantations. They offer Ancient Forest Friendly certified options to encourage responsible production on the manufacturer’s side and environmentally sound choices on the consumer’s side. Ancient Forest Friendly paper utilizes only eco-friendly fibers with a heavy post-consumer recycled content. The remaining fibers come from agricultural or FSC certified virgin fiber.
Recycled Paper Products
There are many different paper products that do not require the use of any virgin fiber. Choosing notepads, envelopes, notebooks, and other paper materials that utilize post-consumer waste content helps to save forest old growth by lowering the demand for virgin paper. Post-consumer waste includes old newspapers, books, magazines, and office paper that have been collected in curb-side recycling programs.
Utilizing one ton of recycled newspapers in post-consumer waste products can save 17 trees, 31,780 liters of water, and 43% of energy when compared to producing a ton of virgin paper.
Small Changes
Making just a small change, like the type of paper you use, is a great way to help preserve endangered rain forests from further elimination. Consider that, an average office worker uses 10,000 sheets of copy paper per year. This is equivalent to a 100-foot tall Douglas fir. Next time you purchase a paper product, realize that you can make a big impact, save resources and reduce demand on landfills.
References
(2010) Ancient Forest Friendly paper. Retrieved September 1, 2010.
(2010) Paper buying for individuals: Go Ancient Forest Friendly. Retrieved September 1, 2010.
(2010) The Science Behind the Brand. Retrieved September 1, 2010.
(2010) Restoring the Forests. Retrieved September 1, 2010.
(2010) The Future of Paper. Retrieved September 1, 2010.
(2002) Getting Out The Cut: Politics And National Forest Timber Harvests. Retrieved September 1, 2010.
(2007) Forest Types Central to AFI’s Efforts. Retrieved September 1, 2010.
