What is Reforestation? Is it Important?

Wood is a vitally important natural resource. Sometimes people think that harvesting it is a bad thing; however, this is hardly the case. In fact, we are protecting and preserving that natural resource through responsible use. Wood is the only renewable construction material. Plastic and aluminum use up valuable nonrenewable natural resources. Ninety-five percent of every tree cut down is used to make products such as construction lumber, plywood, wood chips, and sawdust. Even the bark is used in landscaping. The remaining 5% is made up of branches left in the forest to biodegrade naturally and enrich the soil, helping saplings to grow.

Careful use of the forests, including selective cutting methods, helps to promote new tree growth, and increased sunlight allows for a greater diversity of species and their survival over time. When forests become old or overcrowded, trees stop growing and begin to decay. They release carbon dioxide that contributes to the greenhouse effect. Responsible harvesting of forests and reforestation lock in the carbon and ensures a continual supply of oxygen-producing trees. Reforestation actually removes carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and puts it somewhere else, like in the mass of a live, growing forest. This is a vital part of reducing carbon emissions, offsetting “carbon footprints” and providing time to transition to a clean energy economy.

Reforestation is the restocking of existing forests and woodlands, which have been depleted, with native tree stock. It can also refer to the process of restoring and recreating areas of woodlands or forest that once existed but were deforested or otherwise removed or destroyed at some point in time. Simply put, reforestation causes a forest to grow again. The resulting forest can provide both ecosystem and resource benefits and has the potential to become a major carbon sink (a natural carbon dioxide reservoir that removes carbon from the atmosphere and releases oxygen back into it).

Reforestation occurs by allowing a deforested land to be undisturbed for several years or by replanting native species in open areas or adjacent to the remaining forest. Native forests are resilient and may re-establish themselves quickly by letting nature take its own course. Pressure on forests can be relieved by creating tree farms for the sole purpose of harvesting them for sale or manufacture, such as in the wood flooring, pulp and paper industries. This method of replanting trees whenever some are cut down is similar to harvesting of other crops.

Reforestation can provided other benefits in addition to financial returns, including restoration of the soil, rejuvenation of local flora and fauna, and capturing and sequestering 38 tons of carbon dioxide per hectare per year. It also helps protect the natural habitats of some animal species and prevent shoreline erosion. So, ultimately, reforestation is very important, not only for the industry but also our environment.

Bamboo

As one of nature’s most renewable gifts, bamboo has been used in many ways since the beginning of time. In modern times, it has become the wood of choice for making both decorative and practical items that are aesthetically pleasing as well as environmentally friendly. Bamboo will give you the natural beauty of hardwood flooring in your home without the detrimental effect on the environment. Bamboo is one of the hardest natural materials available for flooring use, and is an excellent alternative to tree wood, because of its extremely fast growth speed. Because bamboo is a rapid growing grass, and not wood, it can be harvested every 3-5 years, unlike 15-25 years for most tree wood, or up to 120 years for oak! Here are couple interesting facts about bamboo:

• Bamboo is the fastest-growing plant on Earth. It can surge skyward as fast as 121 cm (47.6 inches) in 24-hours

• It can also reach maximal growth rate exceeding one meter (40 inches) per hour for short periods of time

• 6 million people in China work in bamboo and 600 million people worldwide rely on income from it

Growth speed makes bamboo a very environmentally friendly product for flooring. When it’s harvested, it grows back – just like your lawn. But unlike your grass, bamboo is hard – 25% harder than red oak, but equally as strong. Bamboo is also blessed with colorful tones and distinctive grains. Such sustainability, strength and beauty are major reasons why bamboo has grown to become one of the most popular flooring choices in America.

Bamboo is found in diverse climates, ranging from cold mountains to hot tropical regions. The majority of today's bamboo flooring products originate in China, and other areas of Asia. There are about 1,000 species of bamboo. The species of bamboo used for flooring is commonly known as "Moso.” The manufactured bamboo flooring commonly found in North America is processed by steaming, splitting and flattening the bamboo and then allowing it to dry. The bamboo is then laminated in layers with glue under high pressure. Manufactured bamboo floors are typically made available in planks with either vertical- or horizontal-grain orientation. The two major colors are natural (similar to beech) and carbonized (similar to oak). The process of steaming bamboo material under a controlled pressure and temperature is called carbonization. During this process bio-organisms and sugars break down allowing it to become brownish in color. The natural and carbonized bamboo floors are typically referred to as solid bamboo, although, in fact, the structures are layered, similar to plywood.

Bamboo flooring is available in countless colors and styles, which will compliment any interior design. From ultra-contemporary chic, to a more traditional, classic style, natural bamboo flooring will give you a truly unique look.

With high sustainability and environmentally sound origins, bamboo flooring has become a great choice for those looking to decorate their homes or workplaces with the beauty of a wood floor while being environmentally conscious. Because of this, consumers are increasingly choosing to install bamboo flooring in place of traditional hardwood.

There is no question that bamboo is a renewable resource and has been recognized as a “green material.” Quoting Environmental Building News, “Environmentally, it’s hard to argue with a wood substitute that matures in three years, regenerates without need for replanting, and requires minimal fertilization or pesticides.”

Visit GateWoodFloors.com and check out our selection of bamboo. It’s one of the biggest selections you’ll find anywhere!

Hardwood Flooring is Eco-Friendly

The nature of trends is that they don’t last. However, rising concerns over environmental issues indicate that “being green” has surpassed the “trend” stage and has now become a way of life for many consumers. There is evidence of this in our grocery stores with organic and natural foods displays, on packaging for brand name products, advertising “all-natural” or “no hormones,” and in the wave of community recycling programs for everything from paper to children’s toys to furniture - not to mention the free-cycling sites on the internet. So it is now safe to say that "being green" is not a “trend." It is a movement.

The move to environmental responsibility has reached the hardwood flooring industry as well.

Hardwood flooring is, in itself, green. It’s green because it already has the potential to be timeless - used forever as long as it’s maintained properly. It’s made from all-natural renewable resources. Manufacturers around the hardwood flooring industry are making an even bigger push to create flooring products with less waste and longer life. For example, engineered hardwood flooring continues to gain in popularity with consumers. It is a preferred flooring option in most every residential sector. In response to this increasing demand, manufacturers are creating engineered flooring that provides solutions to contractors’ and consumers’ concerns associated with construction, styling, performance and installation. In addition to coming from managed forests, some of these new engineered flooring products are produced with up to two-thirds less harvested wood than with typical wood flooring options. Manufacturers are using the dense inner layers of wood fiber, which are created as by-products from the manufacturing of other products like sawmill by-products. Otherwise these fibers would be thrown away, burned or put into landfills. An example of this extremely eco-friendly product, that showcases unsurpassed structural integrity, impact resistance and moisture tolerance, is Shaw’s EnviroCore ™ - used in their Epic engineered hardwood collection.

We’ve come to a time where “what’s old is new again." And it’s becoming increasingly popular, and important. Reclaimed wood flooring manufacturers are turning old timbers into beautiful wood flooring. Consumers appreciate the reclaimed flooring for its character and time-worn look. And they feel good about choosing a floor with minimal environmental impact.

Whether you are buying new, refinishing old, or reclaiming and reusing, being aware of how your flooring decision effects the environment is important. As the move to go green continues, many hardwood flooring manufacturers will only continue to offer more options to their customers. And GateWood Floors will be here to guide you along the way.