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