Feature with new Industry Developments and Innovations
Wood is at the heart of the PWPA. Its members from the forest management and development, manufacturing, processing, distribution, and marketing of wood products work with the government, communities and other stakeholders to promote responsible forestry. It is for this reason that Phil Wood Expo & Forum 2016 carried the theme ‘Wood: A Strong Climate Change Solution’. Although wood is a misunderstood material, it is actually the only real sustainable material left not manufactured by carving out mountains but created by the sun. Young trees growing aggressively absorb and trap carbon dioxide in its trunk which basically is how it actively reduces greenhouse effects on earth. Unfortunately upon maturity, this rate of Carbon Dioxide absorption slows down much like adults absorb milk for calcium. As advocated by PWPA, if wood is sourced responsibly from Tree Plantations and NOT protected natural old-growth forests, wood use encourages tree farms to increase planting cycles and coverage areas resulting to more CO2-storing trees and increased forest covers. PWPA believes the Philippines, with its richness in soil and natural resources, can take advantage of business sector interests in investments intertwined with social responsibility by promoting commercial Tree Farming in the country. PWPA through Phil Wood Expo 2016 strives to create a business-friendly exhibition and industry-networking event that will attract investors in sustainable forestry and plantation development. With an initiative of government to update statutes governing forestry and wood industry, wood certification of responsible sourcing and tree farms may proliferate in the country. If such happens, one may expect much-needed infusion of investment funds into the local economy, employment of work forces in the countryside, increase in forest covers throughout the archipelago and better protection of the old-growth forests of the country, the host of endemic flora and fauna, by better-funded government agencies.