Architects can help fight climate change by specifying tropical timber, according to Timber Trade Federation CEO David Hopkins.
Speaking in a live Dezeen talk, Hopkins said that the Timber Trade Federation (TTF) wants to challenge negative associations surrounding tropical wood and promote it as "valuable feedstocks for the design world".
By specifying responsibly-sourced tropical timber, architects and designers can help prevent unsustainable forest clearing. "That whole world [of tropical timber] has a very negative connotation with a lot of people," Hopkins said.
"There's a lot of work going on within tropical forestry and tropical timber production that is incredibly positive," he explained. "We want to see these as very valuable materials and very valuable feedstocks for the design world." Responsible forestry can help climate fight
Hopkins' comments were made in a live talk exploring the use of tropical timber in architecture and design. Moderated by Dezeen editor-in-chief Marcus Fairs, the talk was broadcast last week.
Produced in association with the TTF, the aim of the talk was to raise awareness of a European Union initiative called the Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade (FLEGT).
Above: David Hopkins, CEO of the Timber Trade Federation. Top image: a forest in Indonesia
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