Consider
How important Trees are for our everyday needs?
If
you consider the situation with the depletion of our natural forests,
it is not hard to foresee how it is massively important to start the
process of afforestation projects.
Oil,
Gas, Iron Ore etc.,etc. can (ultimately) all be replaced with
alternatives no matter how unstable the world may become due to their
scarcity. However, trees are not a natural resource that can be
depleted to near extinction. Obviously, we need them to exist.
Unless, we as a race, find an alternative to oxygen!
Logically,
it can be seen that trees will, in fact, be more precious and usable
in the future, especially within an ever growing population.
Why?
Well
think of all the uses of trees.
Heat
Wood
to many people is still the primary source of heat.
Going
back to basics, wood was the first material used for heating and at
present it is making a marked comeback in the form of wood pellets
for their use within industrial power generation and also within the
home using wood burning stoves. This is not just in the
industrialised countries but also, increasingly, within developing
nations. Charcoal is still, a regulary used form of fuel for
heating and cooking. Wood is recognised as an environmentally safer
material when contrasted against other raw materials i.e. oil or
coal. With the cost of oil, coal and gas increasing, it is also
economically viable.
Construction
It
seems obvious that wood will remain the main source material in the
construction industry. What is likely to replace it? As population
and demographics explode this will put a massive strain on supply and
demand. Unless, that supply is illegally sourced from existing
forests causing further depletion to one of our greatest natural
resources.
Furniture
I
would suggest that the need for wood in this sector is likely to
increase further as man-made materials are in some way linked to the
expensive raw material, Oil. We know oil can't last forever. It won't
be long before it is just too uneconomic to use Oil. Unlike wood, Oil
takes many thousands of years to form.
Paper
This
is likely to rise and then fall in demand as most text will be
electronic. However, packaging and tissue usage will likely increase.
This is a reality and again linked to population and economic issues.
Paper is likely to be a major industry for many years to come.
Transport
Consider
how many pallets are used to transport goods worldwide and within a
local economy. Again, what is a likely alternative.
With
worldwide government intervention trying to halt illegal logging and
also with the introduction of Carbon Credits as an Asset class, I
believe that the afforestation of large swathes of land is likely and
necessary. Don't forget timber is the worlds third biggest commodity
traded.
Thought?
If carbon emissions are a major factor in #climate change
and #trees are
a major sequester of carbon why don't we plant more trees?
Forestry
Plantations are potentially a solid long term investment. You can
find information of Sustainable Forestry Investments at
www.silvinvest.co.uk
