“Wood is universally beautiful to man. It is the most
humanly intimate of all materials” Says Frank Lloyd Wright, American Architect,
Writer & Educator
The majority of us are unaware of the importance of wood in
the world and in our lives. Wood is an important resource with several
environmental and health benefits, including the ability to regenerate itself
and a smaller carbon impact.
Let us delve into why we should treasure this magnificent
natural resource on the occasion of World Wood Day, which is observed around
the world.
Sustainability: In context to wood means that forest should
still be there for our future generations, much beyond our great grandchildren
and be able to soak up carbon emissions and keep our air clean for times to
come, as well as being a heaven for wildlife. Sustainable wood comes from
sustainably managed forests. It’s renewable because the forest stewards manage
the landscape to prevent damage to eco-systems, watersheds, wildlife, and the
trees themselves, taking a long term rather than short term view of the
resource.
Wellness: The feelings of natural warmth and comfort that
wood elicits in people has the effect of lowering blood pressure and heart
rates, reducing stress and anxiety and increasing positive social interactions.
Wood products within a room have also been shown to improve indoor air quality
by moderating humidity. The studies examining the effects of wooden rooms and
furnishings clearly demonstrate that the presence of wood has positive
physiological and psychological benefits that mimic the effect of spending time
outside in nature.
Aesthetic Appeal: Wood effortlessly combines elegance and
comfort to interior spaces. Applying wood to wall finishes and surfaces adds
character and textures, which is essential to enhancing depth and dimension.
The beauty of wood is that it engages all our senses, warm, rich, and
affectionate. Its surface has a tactile and sensuous strength, while the range
of timber hues and the depth of individual grains, delights the eye. Its appeal
in design and construction is a natural one, as of course, all of these sensual
elements are present when we build with wood. Wood helps create spaces of
optimal look, feel and function for structures in residential and commercial
sectors alike.
Consumers’ world over are getting increasingly conscious of
preserving the environment through mitigation of global warming and carbon
footprint and are demanding wood products made from certified wood from
sustainably managed forests. Organizations too have begun to demonstrate a
commitment towards conserving the environment while building, manufacturing,
and selling wood products. Indian wood industry also of late has started
shifting towards use of materials from sustainable sources.
Canadian Wood, actively
promotes legally harvested and certified wood from sustainably managed forests
of B.C. Canada in the off-shore markets including India by creating awareness
and educating the woodworking industry about its five distinct species, their
properties, and possible applications. Technical support, hand holding and
sharing of best practices by Canadian Wood is what draws the Indian woodworking
community to it. We thus celebrate WORLD WOOD DAY every day and not just once a
year, for nature is vital for the coexistence of human race along with other
living beings in harmony with nature! Courtesy: www.apnnews.com
