Deforestation is the practice of removing trees and large portions of forests. While deforestation can be done responsibly and trees are a renewable resource, unsustainable methods of deforestation have a devastating impact on the environment. The lumber industry has been in a state of transition due to increasing visibility of the need for more regulation and protection of forests. Areas as large as small countries are being deforested every year, and thus attention must be paid to how delicately this deforestation is done.

One area in which deforestation can impact the environment is in the balance of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. As you may have learned, trees undergo what is called cellular respiration during their photosynthesis process. At the end of photosynthesis, trees expel oxygen. Oxygen is the lifeblood of our planet, and as you can imagine if you reduce the number of trees you also reduce the revitalizing supply of oxygen

To illustrate how crucial legal and sustainable deforestation practices are, consider recent deforestation in Pakistan. In the 1990’s over 3% of the area of Pakistan was forested. By 2010 that number had been reduced to 2%. The impact of this deforestation extends from humans to animals. Pakistan is home to over 1,000 species of animals, all of which are all currently being disrupted by deforestation. Not to mention the impact of reducing such large scale areas of forests and disrupting the natural balance of oxygen in the atmosphere.

Irresponsible and unsustainable methods of deforestation contribute to higher temperatures as more greenhouse gases are allowed to circulate in the atmosphere. More greenhouse gases and higher temperatures mean advancing global warming. In fact, glaciers in Pakistan are now melting due to deforestation and climbing temperatures. In 2010 researchers noted a decrease in snow and ice on Mount Kilimanjaro. It has since been linked to mountain deforestation in the region. It is clear that removing trees is not without consequence and is impacting some of the natural wonders of the world.

While it may be true that wood flooring is one of the most sustainable materials to use in a new home or building renovation, it is crucial to properly vet the flooring supplier. There is major variability in the methods used to source wood for flooring. While many providers follow responsible deforestation practices, unfortunately many suppliers cut corners and choose fast methods that leave forests leveled and fragile ecosystems ravaged.

As a consumer you have the choice to support responsibility and positive stewardship of the forest. By purchasing from a reputable provider like Span Floors, you help to strengthen companies with eco-consciousness.

If you are in the midst of a renovation or a commercial building project, we hope this has opened your eyes to the crucial nature of flooring selection and how it impacts our atmosphere and climate. Green building practices are a choice to preserve our planet, its resources, and wildlife. With additional analysis and research into the practices of a flooring supplier you can ensure your project is rooted in responsibility and integrity. Span Floors is a company deeply rooted in that responsibility and integrity. You can be sure that our flooring is sourced with deep respect for the planet.

Span Floors is not just a provider of luxurious high end flooring. Our company is founded on integrity of materials. We procure our raw materials from legal and ethical sources. When you choose our flooring products you not only choose beautiful products, but you choose eco-consciousness and sustainability. We believe in choosing high-end, responsibly sourced flooring, you are choosing beauty for your home and you are also choosing continued beauty for our environment.