Forest conservation has always been a fundamental part of our green mission.  Although Vermont's forests are among the best managed in the world we realize that globally, deforestation is one of the top environmental problems facing the planet today.

In fact, the world’s tropical rainforests are disappearing at a rate of one football field every second!  This deforestation pours carbon dioxide into the atmosphere and contributes more to air pollution and global climate change than exhaust from the entire transportation sector.  Hard to believe isn't it?   Furthermore, forest animals and plants are being lost at a rate of over 100 species/day due to deforestation.

So, if you're planning a fine furniture purchase or you know someone else who is, please consider buying your furniture this Saturday.  Put your purchasing power to work and help us use green commerce to change the world!

Furniture Sale

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But did you know that choosing natural, eco-furniture also reduces your carbon footprint and helps reduce global warming?  It's true. Scientists attribute about 20% of global warming to deforestation, particularly that of tropical rainforests, such as the Amazon.

If you're buying imported wood furniture, chances are it was made from illegally harvested wood that was clear cut from the rainforest.  Because there is such widespread counterfeiting of logging documents, consumers are often unwittingly contributing to global warming and the eventual loss of iconic tree species such as mahogany and teak when purchasing imported furniture. 

Vermont Woods Studios uses only sustainably harvested American wood in the crafting of our furniture.  Much of it comes from our own Green Mountain Forest.  We support the Forest Stewardship Council, the Nature Conservancy and other non-profits working to preserve the rainforest and stop global warming.  When you purchase organic wood furniture from our store you can rest assured that both your furniture and the forest from where it originates will be around for generations to come.

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Check out this video message about rainforest conservation  from Prince Charles, Prince William, Prince Harry, Kermit the Frog,  Daniel Craig, Harrison Ford and the Dalai Lama.  Seems I'm not the only one worried about this; one of the most pressing environmental issues of our time.

Did you know that rainforest destruction accounts for a greater portion of the global warming problem than the entire transportation sector (the combined effect of pollutants from all the cars, boats, trains and planes on the planet)?  Learn more about rainforest conservation and global warming from the Prince by visiting his website, rainforestsos.org.

At Vermont Woods Studios we make sure that the wood we use to build our furniture is harvested sustainably right here in the USA.  Rainforest woods are not used in the making of our furniture.

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Read more about it in the commission's report.

Here are a few frightening facts we've put out before that were reiterated by the Commission:

• 17% of all carbon emissions released into the atmosphere are a result of destruction of the world's forests
• 50,000 square miles of forest, an area larger than the state of Pennsylvania disappear every year due to forest devastation.

Can you believe that?  How many Pennsylvanias do we have to spare?

As wood furniture makers, we feel responsibility in the area of forest stewardship.  We are contacting our representatives in congress to urge them to read, understand and take action on the findings of the Commission's report.  We hope you will too.

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Earth Hour is World Wildlife Fund‘s global initiative where individuals, businesses and governments turn off their lights for one hour to show their support for action on climate change.  Major cities across the US and around the world have committed to participate in Earth Hour 2009.  

Last year,  all seven continents turned out their lights in the largest climate event of all time.  The movement captured the public’s imagination with lights going out at some of the world’s most iconic landmarks including:

• The Sydney Opera House
• Bangkok’s Wat Arun Buddhist temple
• The Coliseum in Rome
• Stockholm’s Royal Castle
• New York’s Empire State Building
• Sears Tower in Chicago and the
• Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco

Even Google’s homepage went dark.

 What does Climate Change have to do with Green Furniture and why are we so fired up about this initiative?  

Believe it or not, 20% of global climate change is caused by deforestation.  As woodworkers, we’ve been reaching out to educate others about the need to preserve the forests.  Not just the temperate forests in which we live and work, but particularly, the world’s rapidly disappearing tropical rainforests.  

We all depend on the forests for our survival.  They are the lungs of our planet and house many of our most precious natural resources and endangered species.  Forest preservation is our passion and Earth Hour is a way to symbolize that passion.  We hope you’ll join us!

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