| There's arguably nothing more visually pleasing than | | | | Meanwhile, many smaller companies began their |
| the smooth, natural beauty of a piece of finely | | | | business with a commitment to sustainable forestry |
| crafted furniture, or the simple elegance of a | | | | practices, and continue their dedication to |
| beautifully finished hardwood floor. But for many | | | | environmentally sound timber harvesting today. For |
| years, concerns have been raised about harvesting | | | | instance, Morse Hardwoods, a company specializing in |
| old-growth hardwood forests for use in the furniture | | | | flooring and millwork crafted from both soft- and |
| and building industries. | | | | hardwoods, uses selective cutting to ensure the |
| Back in the nineties, home improvement giant Home | | | | continued growth of forests, and plans each cut it |
| Depot was under fire for offering wood and wood | | | | makes before it cuts the harvested timber to |
| products harvested using destructive lumbering | | | | maximize the yield from every log and to minimize |
| practices, and even offering exotic woods taken by | | | | waste. Morse and other small timber companies in the |
| clear-cutting methods from endangered tropical rain | | | | U.S. have led the way to sustainable practices. |
| forests. | | | | As the public becomes more aware of the |
| To everyone's astonishment, Home Deport listened; | | | | importance of forest sustainability and chooses |
| and today they are proud to claim that 85 percent | | | | products manufactured from wood harvested in |
| of the wood they sell comes from sustainable | | | | environmentally sound ways, the demand for these |
| forestry practices. They are an amazing example of | | | | products will increase, and the sustainable forestry |
| what can happen when a major corporation chooses | | | | movement will continue to grow - which is good |
| to adopt a responsible attitude toward the | | | | news for the environment. |
| environment. | | | | |