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Have you ever heard someone suggest that by using less paper you can "save a tree"? The fact is, that when the demand for paper declines, tree farming also declines, taking all of the important ecological impacts like clean water and wildlife habitat right along with it. So if you decide to decrease your use of paper, don't think you are going to "save a tree". The reality is that decreasing paper use may we cause a forest somewhere to be replaced by development.

The future of our forests depends on slowing the conversion of these precious resources and by managing them sustainably to ensure their economic, social and environmental benefits for generations to come. That means we've got to provide not only the financial incentive but also the education and tools for responsible forest management.

Additional Environmental Information

If America's private landowners can't make money as tree farmers, many will turn to other income sources for the land. The U.S. could lose 44 million acres of forest to development in the next 30 years.

What can be done?

Since the 1940s, annual growth of new trees has always exceeded the number cut down. By 1992, tree growth outpaced harvest by 32% and the volume of wood in the forest was 360% more than in 1920.

"When people use more paper, suppliers plant more trees. If we want bigger commercial forests, then we should use more paper not less. Our policies should directly protect important wildlife habitats, not try to reduce our demand for paper." - Edward L. Glaeser Professor of Economics, Harvard University.

ASK THE RIGHT QUESTIONS

In today's increasingly environmentally conscious world, there are many questions we ask ourselves each day, such as: "Paper or plastic?" "Am I sacrificing a tree when I print out a document?" "What can I do to fight climate change?" Too often, we make decisions based on the popular rhetoric of the day. If we really want to contribute to the environment, our questions need to change. Ask these questions about paper:

Is paper from a renewable resource? Yes. Wood is a renewable resource.

Does the resource used for paper have a beneficial effect on climate change? Yes. Many climate experts believe that a sustainably managed forest offers one of the least expensive and best ways to fight against climate change.

Do forests have social, economic and environmental benefits? Yes. Forests, both public and private, protect biodiversity and wildlife habitat, provide recreation for outdoor enthusiasts and create jobs for nearly 6 million Americans.

Is paper recyclable? Yes. Today, 57.4% of paper in the U.S. is recovered, and goals are in place to increase this number to 60% by 2012.

Are renewable energy sources used in manufacturing paper? Yes. The pulp and paper industry is the single largest industrial user of carbon-neutral biomass fuels and has invested heavily in technology to reduce energy consumption.

 

(c) International Paper Company. All rights Reserved. Reproduced with permission of International Paper Company.
 
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