By Lynn Capuano
The old-growth forests still have my focus and it’s not just about toilet paper. These are forests that have never been disturbed by any significant activity and have full ecosystems dominated by large old trees of mixed species and ages.
They naturally regenerate and can contain trees that are several hundred years old.
An old-growth forest is multi-layered with trees and plants at every stage of growth and development and with many different shapes and sizes, all in delicate balance as they fill the space according to the sun, shade, and water they need. This structure supports many associated animals, insects and birds and creates many unique microhabitats due to different levels of sunlight, moisture, and other resources.
Because of this diversity of habitats, old growth forests are home to an incredible array of living organisms comprising some of the most biodiverse places on Earth. Because they have remained stable for so long and free of disturbance, they are able to provide homes to animal and plant species requiring very particular conditions to survive that are not found anywhere else. The loss of any of these species can break entire ecological processes.
Unfortunately, old growth forests are rare. Most have fallen prey to industrial agriculture or the logging industry, although some have been disrupted by tornadoes, fires or insects. These forests then are cleared to grow the plants to produce palm oil, raise cattle or soy or to harvest their timber for architectural purposes, pulp, paper products, construction materials, furniture and even musical instruments.
Old growth forests can experience degradation or deforestation. Deforestation involves removal of the entire forested landscape while degradation is the thinning of trees. Though not as destructive as deforestation, forest degradation is still damaging. Through selective logging, the more valuable tree species are removed. This damages 10-20% of the surrounding trees and the entire forest becomes more vulnerable to fire and other threats. The habitat suitability of the forest is also changed. The likelihood that the forest will succumb to deforestation is increased.
A major cause of forest degradation is use of the timber for fuel. Another contributor is logging for paper products.
Cutting down the old growth forest trees means loss of species, some of which can only be found in these forests. With loss of species comes loss of biodiversity, a loss that compounds itself as every species loss impacts all the species that relied on that one species directly or indirectly for food. And the species on the other side of the food chain that provided food to the lost species are no longer being eaten by that lost species, which upsets their balance.
Additionally, the loss of old growth forests means the loss of livelihoods and food sources for many indigenous peoples as well as the loss of their cultural, recreational and religious value. Whole ways of life, communities and peoples are threatened by the destruction of these forests.
And then there is the global climate change threat from clearing old growth forests, whether through targeted cutting or deforestation. Cutting down trees releases carbon into the atmosphere, adding to the greenhouse effect and climate change. Through the process of photosynthesis, trees and other plants take in carbon and store it while releasing oxygen. Tropical forests comprise less that a third of the forests worldwide but hold half of the carbon stored in trees globally.
Old growth forests, as compared to young or mature forests, hold the most carbon of the three types of forests. According to the World Wildlife Fund, old growth forests can hold 30%-70% more carbon than similar degraded forests.
These trees are powerful tools in the face of climate change and need to be protected. There are some simple things we each can do to preserve these undisturbed places.
First, only purchase paper products made from recycled paper with a goal of 100% post-consumer recycled content products. Any “virgin” paper, or paper with no recycled content, is likely being made from logging of old growth forests. This applies to all kinds of paper, from toilet paper to printer paper. If it is not clearly marked as being from another source, avoid anything that doesn’t contain a substantial percentage of recycled material in its content.
Look for timber and paper products with certification by the Forest Stewardship Council or Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification. These certifications mean the source wood meets ecological, economic and social standards.
Use alternatives to wood-based products. Wood composite materials are one such option. You may know it as man-made wood, manufactured board or engineered wood. It can be made from vegetable fibers like hemp stalks, sugar cane residue, rye and wheat straw as well as from wood waste and smaller trees.
Unfortunately, not all wood composites are equal. You have to inquire about the type of adhesive used and the amount of renewable vs. non-renewable materials (petroleum-based polymers) used to make a particular brand and style. Some may not be suitable for outdoor use. In general, however, they are extremely versatile and a good alternative to old growth wood. As a rule, choose higher quality composite materials as these are typically more environmentally sustainable and truly present a better alternative to old growth forest timber in terms of environmental impact.
Avoid products containing palm oil that wasn’t produced sustainably. The RSPO (Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil) label indicates sustainable and socially responsible production. The production of palm oil is a primary cause of destruction of old growth forests. It is used in a great number of packaged products, making it the most widely consumed vegetable oil in the world. Products such as lipstick, pizza dough, instant noodles, shampoo, ice cream, detergent, margarine, chocolate, cookies, biodiesel, soap and packaged bread may all contain palm oil.
It can be produced sustainably, and many companies are working to only use palm oil produced according to environmental and social standards. Palm oil production is the source of many people’s livelihoods so to sustain their well-being and preserve the old growth forest, (and avoid companies switching to something potentially more harmful) purchase products with the RSPO label and contact the companies that are not displaying the RSPO label. Call and write to them and urge them to use certified sustainable palm oil in their products.
Purchase only from companies with a zero-deforestation policy. Such a policy means the company has committed to not use any materials at any point in its supply chain (including timber, beef, soy, palm oil or paper) that contributed to deforestation.
And finally, go see an old growth forest yourself. There is one at the New York Botanical Garden in the Bronx, the Thain Family Forest and there is another in Westchester at the Rockefeller State Preserve, the Big Tree Loop. In fact, there are old growth forests throughout New York in 14 counties. Enjoy them all!