Harvesting Tropical Trees
Tropical forests in Central and South America and Africa are often harvested by a practice called Selective Logging. In Southeast Asia, more of the species have value so the forest is clearcut (meaning all trees are cut down). Selective logging, if done correctly, minimally damages the rainforest and the forest grows back quickly. Native species wood products from Central and South America often are harvested

Reforestation and Plantations
Plantation forestry is a practice often said to be the way to grow trees in the tropics and harvest the wood without environmental damage. Although people call it "reforestation," it is not so unless the forest is reforested with species that belong in the area. For example, much of the "reforestation" in Costa Rica is done with Teak, a species that originated in India and is of little or no use to the wildlife found there. Planting Teak in Central and South America--where it is not native--is in many ways no more reforestation than planting a cornfield.

In the picture here, a scientist is growing a Mahogany seedling to plant back in the forests where Mahogany is native and belongs. When other native species are included so you don't have a single-species "forest," this is the proper type of reforestation. During the time the trees are growing, the species that need them to survive will have use of them, and then some can be cut for making things people need.

Is it always wrong to buy wood products from tropical trees? No. But when buying something from tropical woods, educate yourself as a consumer. Many stores are selling Teak from Costa Rican plantations and claiming it is part of reforesting the rainforest. This is far from the truth.

A lot of the wood products available today come from Southeast Asia. Because SE Asian rainforests are being very destructively clearcut to obtain these woods, you should reconsider any purchases of any products from these woods. Much of the cheap solid wood furniture available today is from these tree species, as are many of the wood picture frames. Look at the "Made in..." label, and if it says Malaysia, Indonesia, China, Thailand, or any other Southeast Asian country, you can be pretty certain the wood came from destroying a rainforest area.

What about wood products from North America, Europe, and Northern Asia?
Well, it depends. Old Growth wood is something to avoid. Old Growth forests are ancient forests that have not been significantly altered by humans for a long time (centuries and beyond). It is something to treasure, especially in wealthy nations where we have the economic resources available to protect it and develop alternatives. I do not want my children to grow up and ask where all the old trees are, and I imagine you don't either.