The figures speak for themselves: 13 million hectares of natural forest are disappearing annually. This means a loss of 25 hectares, or 36 football fields, every minute of the day!
The main causes of this decline are illegal logging and unsustainable forest exploitation. Yet there is hope for our natural forests because consumers may use market mechanisms to halt the forest plunder by increasing demand for wood produced through responsible forestry. Such products can be identified through a quality label controlled by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC). More information on the FSC label read here.
FSC certified products are not always easy to find in shops but this situation will change when consumers demand for such products. Today there are 12 companies in Singapore that have obtained FSC certification including Acacia Corporation, Chuan Soon Huat Industrial Group, Equatorial Wood Co. Pte Ltd, Ivena International Pte. Ltd., Paget Trading Ltd., Premed International Pte Ltd, Sinmayan Co. Pte.Ltd., Sinvico Trading Pte.Ltd., Sudima International Pte Ltd, Sunrise Doors International Pte. Ltd., Tectona Marketing Services (S) Pte.Ltd. and Test Rite Pte.Ltd.
So, if consumers can not find FSC certified products in our shops they should ask the shopkeeper. When demand is increasing the shopkeepers will surely follow.