The Rainforest Action Network and other environmental groups have won pledges from the 536-store Home Depot chain and almost 1,000 other lumberyards to no longer purchase or sell wood harvested from redwood and other old-growth forests.
Many amateur weekend carpenters have also taken the pledge, said Mark Westlund, communications director for the San Francisco-based group which began soliciting the pledges a year ago.
“The campaign to protect ancient redwood and other old-growth trees is based on the simple logic that timber companies will have no incentive to cut down ancient trees if consumers refuse to buy old-growth lumber,” said Westlund. According to Westlund, most lumber coming from ancient redwood forests is used for luxury items like decks, hot tubs, trim and decorative molding for which there are many alternatives.