Selective wood utilization is not synonymous with sustainable forestry

Selective logging is not at all equivalent to sustainable forestry. FSC/PEFC-certified tropical forest management as practiced by Precious Woods is based on careful planning and selection of the trees to be harvested, without endangering the diversity of tree species, the tree and carbon stocks, or the regenerative capacity of the forests overall. Average logging at Precious Woods is 1 to 3 trees per hectare during a cycle of 25 or 35 years. The legal foundations would permit a far higher logging quota, which would also result in lower costs. But this is not an option for Precious Woods, because we would then be unable to fulfil our environmental or social responsibility. Our activities are independently verified each year and documented by scientific studies. In this way, we can demonstrate that timber can be harvested in tropical forests without negatively affecting the ecosystem. Thanks to this insight, it is possible to secure employment and generate local added value even in remote regions of emerging countries. At the same time, Precious Woods makes a wide range of contributions to improving local earning opportunities, basic and continuing training, social stability, cultural heritage and infrastructure. Our activities benefit not only our customers, but also the local population. We are convinced that the pioneering role played by Precious Woods contributes to the sustainable value of wood as a material even in tropical forests, thus achieving triple added value (economic, environmental, and social).

Key figures on sustainability