The use of timber in construction is becoming increasingly popular because of its environmental merits. It is one of the only inherently renewable building materials and has the additional advantage that both the growing tree and the manufactured wood product act as carbon sinks, locking in the carbon until the wood is broken down through decay or burning. If suggested UK housing targets of 200,000 homes per year were being met, it is estimated that up to 4 million tonnes of carbon could be sequestered in housing stock every year.
Timber is an increasingly popular construction product because of its environmental merits.
Sustainable forest management is essential to avoid deforestation.
Management by continuous cover maintains the wellbeing of the forest ecosystem.
Clear felling is common practice for traditional plantation forestry with a commercial focus, but it can be detrimental to the environment.