| There's arguably nothing more visually pleasing than | | | | continue their dedication to environmentally sound |
| the smooth, natural beauty of a piece of finely | | | | timber harvesting today. For instance, Morse |
| crafted furniture, or the simple elegance of a | | | | Hardwoods, a company specializing in flooring and |
| beautifully finished hardwood floor. But for many | | | | millwork crafted from both soft- and hardwoods, |
| years, concerns have been raised about harvesting | | | | uses selective cutting to ensure the continued |
| old-growth hardwood forests for use in the furniture | | | | growth of forests, and plans each cut it makes |
| and building industries.Back in the nineties, home | | | | before it cuts the harvested timber to maximize the |
| improvement giant Home Depot was under fire for | | | | yield from every log and to minimize waste. Morse |
| offering wood and wood products harvested using | | | | and other small timber companies in the U.S. have led |
| destructive lumbering practices, and even offering | | | | the way to sustainable practices.As the public |
| exotic woods taken by clear-cutting methods from | | | | becomes more aware of the importance of forest |
| endangered tropical rain forests.To everyone's | | | | sustainability and chooses products manufactured |
| astonishment, Home Deport listened; and today they | | | | from wood harvested in environmentally sound ways, |
| are proud to claim that 85 percent of the wood they | | | | the demand for these products will increase, and the |
| sell comes from sustainable forestry practices. They | | | | sustainable forestry movement will continue to grow |
| are an amazing example of what can happen when a | | | | - which is good news for the environment.Aldene |
| major corporation chooses to adopt a responsible | | | | Fredenburg is a freelance writer living in southwestern |
| attitude toward the environment.Meanwhile, many | | | | New Hampshire. She has written numerous articles |
| smaller companies began their business with a | | | | for local and regional newspapers and for a number |
| commitment to sustainable forestry practices, and | | | | of Internet websites, including Tips and Topics. |