Construction 21 has published an interview with Guillaume Dahringer, Technical Director of the FSC France association, whose mission is to promote responsible forest management around the world. Together, we take stock of the benefits of tropical wood for the construction industry, and the need to certify it.
Tropical timber is often associated with deforestation. What is really the case?
Guillaume Dahringer: It's actually agriculture that is the main driver of deforestation. We are losing vast areas of forest to palm oil, soya and cattle farming because, unfortunately, these activities bring far more immediate economic benefits to people than a forest, especially if we consider that it should not be exploited.
According to the WWF, one of the solutions to combating deforestation is sustainable forest management, which is precisely the vision of FSC. Forests must be given their true value (environmental, human, social and economic) if they are to be conserved.
What is the estimated share of certified tropical wood (including FSC)?
GD: If we consider the total quantity of wood imported by the EU, only 30% was certified in 2021, and since then there has been no upward trend, although demand for FSC-certified wood remains strong. Of all the European countries, France is said to have an average level of sustainable wood imports (29%). So there's still a lot of work to be done by both companies and governments!
Can you give us an update on the use of tropical wood in the French building and public works sector, particularly in terms of shares and species?
GD: France accounts for around 20% of European tropical wood imports, mainly from Africa and Latin America.
They are mainly used for exterior fittings - decking, terraces, landscaping - and joinery - windows, doors, plywood for interior fittings. Unfortunately, demand continues to be concentrated on a small number of species (ipe, sapelli, okoumé, iroko, etc.) despite the great diversity of tropical forests. However, changes in international regulations on trade in wild species (CITES) are changing the market as some of these species become increasingly rare.
Why is tropical wood so popular in the construction sector?
GD: Wood has technical properties that give it unique advantages depending on its intended use: resistance to static bending, resistance to compression, shock absorption, hardness, fire resistance, dimensional stability, chemical resistance, noise reduction, etc. Many tropical hardwoods have very high natural resistance to fungi, which means that this material performs well in outdoor applications where it is exposed to moisture and wind. Bearing in mind that manufacture and design must be carried out correctly to avoid the build-up of excess moisture in the structure, joints and overlaps.
It's all about the right wood for the right purpose.
What advantages do tropical woods offer in terms of durability?
GD: The main tool we know of for measuring the environmental impact of a construction material is the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA). This calculation takes into account all the environmental impacts that a material can have on the lives of plants, animals and human beings.
Sustainably managed tropical wood outperforms all its competing materials (wood composites, PVC, steel, concrete and other plastics) in the LCA calculations, because it is a biological material that captures carbon during the production process. What's more, at the end of its life, wood degrades naturally or can be used as a biofuel, an important advantage in terms of the circular economy.
Finally, for some species, it is even possible to use them without additional chemical or thermal treatment, making them even more sustainable from an environmental point of view.
What are the main difficulties in preserving the durability of tropical wood?
GD: As in the case of deforestation, the main risks are competition with other uses and the temptation of extractivist practices for unscrupulous markets, which are more profitable in the short term. This leads to the degradation of forests and ultimately threatens the availability of wood products!
The impact of climate change obviously also needs to be taken into account in the development of management practices. Forest certification and the purchase of FSC-labelled wood by the industry is the best way of rewarding the efforts made by foresters and ensuring the sustainability of both forest ecosystems and supplies. It also enables them to comply with the European Regulation against Deforestation and Forest Degradation (RDUE).
Are there any notable examples of sustainable construction using tropical wood?
GD: Of course! For example, there are several structures in the Athletes' Village for the 2024 Olympic Games, the locks in Amsterdam and even the Pont des Arts in Paris.
Thanks to FSC project certification, project owners and contractors can communicate their commitment to responsible forest management and sourcing.
The Pont des Arts footbridge in Paris © Ludivine Boizard - Ville de Paris
What is the FSC doing to preserve forests and biodiversity?
GD: The FSC forest management standards include numerous requirements to preserve biodiversity, from emblematic and protected species and their habitats to the diversity of tree species, which is fundamental to preserving the health of the ecosystem.
This is reflected, for example, in the identification of specific areas known as High Conservation Value zones, which must not be impacted by forest management. These can cover very large areas, intact forest landscapes of more than 50,000 km2, which have not been impacted by human activities and which must be preserved. FSC also promotes the use of the widest possible range of timber species, to avoid focusing exploitation on the few best-known species. The diversity of forests depends on the diversity of our uses!
A recent scientific study proves that timber production in FSC-certified forests really does help to protect biodiversity in the tropical forests of the Congo Basin.
What about the indigenous peoples of the regions where the tropical woods come from?
GD: Respect for the rights of indigenous peoples, as defined by the United Nations, has also been a fundamental aspect of FSC certification since its inception. This includes, for example, respect for customary rights, even if they are not enshrined in the law of the countries concerned, the right to free, prior and informed consent for any management action that could have a negative impact on them, and the protection of traditional and sacred sites.
Indigenous peoples are also key players in providing solutions for managing and preserving forests and the Earth in general, which is why FSC has set up the FSC Indigenous Foundation, an organisation run by indigenous peoples to support their autonomy and self-sufficiency.
