There is a lot of praise for so-called sustainable forestry, mainly from the timber industry, various politicians and even from some environmental groups. However, one must ask just how sustainable the practices utilized by those involved in this sustainable forestry really are. After all, the idea is encouraging, and is something that should be encouraged, and yet if “sustainable forestry” is just a pretty name without any real benefit behind it, then we are all simply having the wool pulled over our eyes. Which is precisely why we all must educate ourselves and research the ideas that are put before us as facts. We, as conscious American consumers, must make well-informed decisions regarding such topics as sustainable forestry.
For today, most sustainable forestry is practiced in the context of an economic definition of “sustainable” rather than an ecological one. The idea behind sustainable forestry today essentially means that for these forestry corporations, there is a continual long-term timber supply, not necessary a sustainable forest in and of itself. This severely changes our understanding of what sustainable forestry is, and from this point, we all just make decisions regarding our support or lack of support for these practices. Keep yourself informed, and you will feel much better about the decisions you make in terms of ecological soundness - from eating organic to supporting new ideas regarding sustainable forestry.