Does using wood or forest products contribute to deforestation?

Deforestation occurs when forests are converted permanently or semi-permanently to another land use, such as real estate development or agriculture. Sustainable forestry operations, as practiced in the U.S., are not deforestation.

When most people think of deforestation, they often picture the Amazon rainforest or palm oil plantations. In many parts of the world, most notably in the tropics, deforestation is still an ongoing issue. This is drastically different from forestry in the U.S., where some of the highest standards of sustainable forest management in the world are practiced, making U.S. forests a responsible choice for material sourcing. Forestry practices in the U.S. are often considered superior due to a combination of factors. The U.S. benefits from a diverse range of forest ecosystems, enabling specialized and adaptive management practices. Sustainable forestry results from a mature and stable market for forest products, a comprehensive regulatory framework that balances environmental, economic, and social interests, and third-party forest management and wood fiber sourcing certification programs. These factors place U.S. forestry at the forefront of combining economic productivity and environmental stewardship.

The U.S. has had stable forest area since the 1950s because of sustainable forest management. A core principle of sustainable forest management is the continuous cycle of growth, harvest, and regrowth to keep forests intact. The standard practice is to replant within a year to ensure a healthy and reestablished forest emerges within five years of a harvest. Trees harvested today are largely trees that were specifically planted to be harvested many years ago.

Harvesting occurs on less than 2% of private working forests each year. Replanting and regeneration occur on roughly the same number of acres annually. This cycle provides a mosaic of forest age and size classes across the landscape, which is beneficial for wildlife, water quality, carbon sequestration, and carbon storage. It also ensures a renewable and abundant natural resource for future generations.