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What is an old growth forest?
"Old Growth" does not mean "Antique Wood." Old Growth Forests are essentially virgin to logging. They are also self-sufficient ecosystems. Trees in an old growth forest were permitted by nature to develop genuinely over hundreds of years. Therefore they grew straighter and thicker, as slow as nature intended, and most importantly, untainted by human intrusion. Wood cultivated from old growth forests is unmistakably superior in stability and aesthetic appeal. Exhibiting up to 35 growth rings per inch, the wood is more dense and has developed fantastic true color, revealed by its richer sapwoods and deeper heartwoods. Wood from old growth forests is, quite simply, better than young, artificially stimulated forests introduced in our century. It stands up to water, traffic and insects better than new wood on the market today.
Many of America's older buildings were erected from lumber produced from these virgin forests. These are the buildings from which AASW seeks to recover our raw materials.
Old Growth Forests are irreplaceable and have stood unchanged for thousands of years. With so little of them left, the remaining areas of old growth should be carefully preserved-only about 5% of the world's remaining Old Growth Forests can be found right here in the United States and only about 20% of original old growth forests remain globally. Political intervention has prevented further degradation of these living vestiges here in our country, and many organizations are fighting hard to preserve the rest of the world’s forests ("Save The Rain Forests!").
Because of excessive harvesting and these political preservation mandates, lumber companies are planting and harvesting genetically altered trees to grow to maturity in just a handful of years. Only 3 to 5 growth rings per inch can be found, and the generated wood tends to be less stable and more prone to decay.
Many of America's older buildings were erected from lumber produced from these virgin forests. These are the buildings from which AASW seeks to recover our raw materials.
Old Growth Forests are irreplaceable and have stood unchanged for thousands of years. With so little of them left, the remaining areas of old growth should be carefully preserved-only about 5% of the world's remaining Old Growth Forests can be found right here in the United States and only about 20% of original old growth forests remain globally. Political intervention has prevented further degradation of these living vestiges here in our country, and many organizations are fighting hard to preserve the rest of the world’s forests ("Save The Rain Forests!").
Because of excessive harvesting and these political preservation mandates, lumber companies are planting and harvesting genetically altered trees to grow to maturity in just a handful of years. Only 3 to 5 growth rings per inch can be found, and the generated wood tends to be less stable and more prone to decay.
This symbol signifies a reclaimed material , which meets "green building" standards.
If you see it, than that material is architecturally sustainable!