At the Wood Cellar, we believe in preservation and sustainable yield in forest product harvesting and manufacturing.
In the US we buy only from companies that utilize best forest management practices for sustainable yield forestry. The latest RPA assessment, an inventory taken every 10 years by the US Forest Service, shows that over the last 50 years, the inventory of hardwoods standing in US Forests has doubled as harvesting levels have remained well below the level of growth. The US hardwood inventory now stands in excess of 10,000 million m3 and is growing at a rate of 40 million m3 per year after harvesting.
For our exotic hardwoods, we take seriously our responsibility to support the viability of Brazil’s rain forest, as well as to help renew its natural resources. We buy only from companies that are licensed by IBAMA, Brazilian Institute for Environment and Renewable Resources (Brazil’s version of the EPA) for selective timber removal. IBAMA polices timber companies’ practices thereby controlling the amount of timber cut for sustained yield management. Economic viability of forest products also protects the rain forest for the local indigenous populations, giving them an economic incentive to maintain a healthy, thriving forest with a sustained yield. The major culprit of deforestation is land clearing by cattle ranchers and land developers. By helping to create healthy, self sustaining, economically viable forests we also increase the hurdles of difficulties that cattle ranchers or land developers may have for clear cutting.