do tree farms make a difference?

If you’re like most people, you believe that the planting of new trees helps offset losses due to logging. In some ways it does. There are now farms, called mono-culture tree plantations, that grow trees specifically for paper production, but unfortunately these farms are not a perfect solution.

First of all, they don’t contain the same biodiversity and range of habitats that natural forests do. As well, many of them have been established in places that used to be natural forests. In southeastern USA 75% of them occur on the site of former natural forests and wetlands.

In fact, these tree farms are the leading cause of lost wetlands in that area. By replacing natural forest and wetlands with tree farms, we greatly impact the natural ecosystem. The loss of forest as habitat leads to species endangerment. The indigenous variety of plants and animals has been disturbed and modified. The water and soil quality are both lower.

Can the soil fully replenish without the enormous variety of rotting plants, wildlife droppings and munching organisms? If not, it won’t be long before that land can’t sustain the growth of those “paper” trees any longer.

Paper will always have an important place in society: let's be sure to use it responsibly - Remember to EcoPrint!