Wood

Wood is extremely popular as a renewable and versatile raw material. Not only is it used to make furniture, toys and decorative items, but the consumption of firewood is also on the rise. Alongside sustainable forestry, there is often (legal and illegal) deforestation of primeval forests – with catastrophic consequences for people and the environment in many places.

In Siberia, for example, the global rise in demand for timber has led to the destruction of vast areas of forest. Whilst forestry is an important economic factor for Russia, NGOs, for instance, report the destruction of ecosystems and the habitats of Siberia’s indigenous peoples. It is believed that timber from illegal clear-cutting, usually via Asia, also finds its way into the EU – and ultimately into German living rooms in the form of tables, chairs and cupboards.

Using the teaching materials on the topic of timber, pupils can discuss who, within the value chain from harvesting to the end product, bears (joint) responsibility for improving social, environmental and economic conditions and ensuring greater sustainability within the industry.

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