Back in May 2020, Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro authorized the deployment of the Brazilian Armed Forces to prevent and combat environmental crimes, such as deforestation, as well as fighting fires in the Legal Amazon.

Part of these operations, called Operação Verde Brasil 2 (or Operation Green Brazil 2), have seized about 329,000 cubic meters of wood since that decree back in May 2020. One-third of this, more than 130 thousand cubic meters of wood, were seized in Brazil’s largest operation known as Operation Handroanthus, or Operation “Ipe” beginning in November 2020. To put it in perspective, that’s about 6,200 truckloads of illegally-sourced wood. The scale of this operation was so significant, that soldiers from the Ministry of Defense had to be called in December 2020.

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Where your wood comes from matters. Of course you need a species that performs the way you want – color, durability, scent, installation, etc. – but considering where that wood was sourced should also be a major factor. (more…)

There is an invasive pest called the Emerald Ash Borer Beetle (EAB) that is killing ash trees across the country. It is a very serious threat and, over time, could kill most ash trees in North America if a cure/remedy is not discovered.