Pro Tropenholz is an association of long-established timber importers and distributors with similar concerns..
A legitimate international timber trade does not lead to the destruction of the vital tropical forests.
A boycott does not address the issue of saving the forests.
The economic use of this precious resource enables the protection of the entire eco-system.
Sustainable use and a sensible afforestation also benefit the people living in or near them.
The high-grade timber imported from the tropics possesses technical properties (such as durability) not matched by European timber species. Chemical and thermal methods have been developed to equip local timber with similar properties. However, this can only be achieved by expending considerable effort and by incorporating chemicals that cause far-reaching side-effects.
Why use Tropical Timber at all?
82% of the total timber use in the tropical countries is for firewood.
18% only is usefully applied.
75% (!!) of the 18% serve local consumption.
The remainder – 25% only of the total usefully applied timber - is exported from the various countries.