History of sustainable forestry

The act of harvesting wood goes back approximately 1,000,000 years, when human ancestors used wood ash to make fire.

Since then, humans have grown more and more dependent on forest resources. Over the years, it became clear that rules had to be put in place to meet the need for forest products in the long term. 

The earliest trace of sustainable forest management comes from 16th-century Germany. Then, forest properties were divided into sections to ensure concurrent harvesting and regeneration.

Modern forest management is deeply intertwined with natural resource management. Many forest managers understand the need to conserve forest trees to ensure continuous supply. Despite good intentions, exploitative practices persist. 

Illegal logging, clear-cutting, and monoculture plantations are some of the unsustainable practices we see in the industry today. When forests are managed unsustainably, many unnecessary challenges arise for humans and animals now and in the future.