Conservation and Natural Resource Management
Watching out for our ecosystem’s delicate balance ensures that future generations can enjoy all nature has to offer. That means that stewardship of conservation efforts is essential for a better tomorrow.
It’s important to us, which is why we aim to inspire and empower customers to preserve the great outdoors through conservation, natural resource preservation efforts and – of course – by using sustainably sourced, natural products.
After all, if we fail to respect the outdoors, it goes away.
What is Conservation?
Conservation involves protecting, preserving and managing natural habitats and wildlife populations so they survive for future generations. Conservation aims to maintain biodiversity, support an ecosystem’s natural function and reduce the negative impact of human activities.
By safeguarding natural areas and the creatures that live there, conservation efforts contribute to the overall health of our planet and everyone’s well-being.
What is Natural Resource Management?
Natural Resource Management (NRM) is all about using and protecting our natural resources in a sustainable way.
It’s the practice of managing natural resources, such as land, water, soil, plants and animals, while balancing the needs of current and future generations. The main focus of NRM is sustainability, ensuring that resources are used efficiently and conserved for the long term.
In our case, sustainable forestry plays a major role. When done right, it can make a major impact: reduce carbon, produce oxygen and bring the goodness of natural products into our homes!
Natural Resource Management and Hardwood Products
We know – a lot of people falsely assume that using natural resources like hardwoods goes against conservation efforts, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. In fact, natural hardwood products play an important role in supporting healthy ecosystems.
We have some friends over at the Real American Hardwood Coalition who inspire and educate homeowners and design professionals on the benefits of the domestic hardwood industry (which is basically the entire eastern U.S. – all the way through Louisiana – plus Oregon and Washington).
They talk about the ins and outs of proper forest management.
What you’ll learn is that producing sustainably sourced wood products allows older trees to be taken down before they release carbon dioxide. (Yes – when they die they release all of the carbon dioxide that they stored!). Doing so clears space for younger trees to thrive, too.
Carbon emissions accelerate climate change, and by using older trees to produce hardwood products, we actually prevent harmful emissions.
FAQs: Comparing Building Products
Here’s a pretty amazing fact… 47% of all industrial raw materials in the U.S are wood products, but their manufacturing only consumes 4% of the energy used in processing. Compare that to some other materials:
Glass – 14x more energy
Steel – 24x more energy
Aluminum – 126x more energy
But, even more, there are health-related implications. Let’s compare laminate to hardwood.
Impact of Laminate vs. Hardwood
Of course, producing laminate can be energy intensive, but even more concerning are the components that are used to make it! If you haven’t heard of off-gassing, let’s take a deeper look.
Laminate contains adhesives and resins that can release VOCs (volatile organic compounds). These emissions occur over time, especially from new products, evaporating from the material when it’s at room temperature and entering the indoor environment, potentially impacting air quality and health.
Exposure to high levels of VOCs can lead to symptoms like headaches, dizziness, eye, nose, and throat irritation, and in severe cases, long-term health issues like asthma or other respiratory conditions.
Even more alarming, some adhesives contain formaldehyde – yes, formaldehyde: the colorless, flammable, and highly toxic gas that’s linked to cancer and other serious health conditions.
While there are regulations in place (such as the California Air Resources Board (CARB) standards) to limit the amount of formaldehyde emissions from laminate products, some lower-quality or imported products may not comply with these standards.
Now, compare that to NATURAL hardwoods. When finished with zero-VOC or low-VOC stains and finishes, you have a healthy home with fewer allergens, a product that’s good for your mood (and stress) and an element that delivers better indoor air quality!
Better Products and Getting Back to Nature
It’s also important to get back into the great outdoors! In today’s fast-paced world, it can be easy to forget how important it is to connect with the natural environment. It grounds us. It can improve your mood. It can reduce your stress. It can get you moving. It can even boost those Vitamin D levels!
That’s why the Real American Hardwood Coalition and shows like Renovation Hunters are important to us.
Renovation Hunters and the Fight for the Outdoors
Outdoor Channel’s Renovation Hunters renovates family hunting cabins and vacation camps for current and future generations. This mission helps more people enjoy the outdoors while also inspiring television viewers at home.
It can be seen in every episode, ultimately giving families time together while also celebrating the beauty of nature. Our partnership delivers sustainable materials and natural resources to the show while encouraging families to move forward with environmentally friendly and nature-focused improvements.
Spreading Awareness on National TV
In a recent episode of American Hardwood Advisor, Steve Stack sat down with Renovation Hunters host Hal Shaffer to discuss how the two companies use their partnership (and platform) to spread awareness on important issues.
Education and Conservation Programs
Awareness programs for wildlife and nature conservation foster collective responsibility and action to protect our planet. These include education, social media campaigns and citizen science projects.
Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR)
The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) plays a critical role in managing and protecting natural resources and public lands. Its responsibilities include overseeing state parks, forests and state lands, ensuring they are maintained for enjoyment and ecological health.
The DCNR conducts scientific research on conservation strategies, promotes sustainable forestry practices and preserves biodiversity by protecting endangered species and their habitats. It also offers environmental education to teach the public about the importance of conservation.
The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS)
The Natural Resources Conservation Service (nrcs.usda.gov) is a USDA government organization dedicated to assisting farmers, agricultural producers, ranchers and private landowners in conserving natural resources, improving soil health, controlling erosion, water conservation, land management and being mindful of wildlife habitat.
A partnership with NRCS aims to ensure long-term productivity and resilience of agricultural landscapes while safeguarding natural resources for future generations.
Baird Brothers Conservation Efforts and Sustainability
At Baird Brothers, we are committed to conserving nature through education and sustainable practices.
We value and respect the natural resources we work with, ensuring that no part of the lumber goes to waste. Even our sawdust is collected and burned to fuel our buildings!
Our responsibly sourced timber comes from properly managed lands in order to maintain important forest ecosystems and produce healthier trees. These sustainable practices ensure that our high-quality wood products go hand-in-hand with environmental stewardship.
To learn more about Baird Brothers and Renovation Hunters, visit https://asseenontv.bairdbrothers.com/renovation-hunters/.
