Tropical Timber:
Seeing the Forest for the Trees

The destruction of tropical forests is one of the best-known environmental crises facing us today. Tropical rainforests have been described as the “lungs of the earth,” and they contain the highest concentrations of biodiversity on the planet. Yet in spite of all the attention they have received, by most accounts the problem is not moving closer to a solution. Not only are forests still being destroyed with alarming speed, but the rate of destruction has actually increased over the past decade. Contrary to popular perception, however, hardwoods sold to industrialized countries are not always the leading cause of deforestation. In fact, purchasing some tropical hardwoods—from the right source—may be a critical part of the solution.

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