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Green Information

The Maple Flooring Manufacturers Association (MFMA) is dedicated to preserving and protecting America's forestlands, while providing the forest products critical to the nation's well-being. MFMA and its members are committed to providing the highest standards of quality available from America's forests.

Are we running out of hardwoods?

• There are 737 million acres of forests in the U.S., one-third of the nation.
• Every day the forest industry, together with federal and state forest agencies, plants more than 1.5 billion more trees.
• Forest Statistics of the United States, 2002, shows that the U.S. grows six times more hardwoods than are harvested each year.
• Hardwoods have increased in every region of the U.S.
• Wood is the only natural resource on Earth that is at once renewable, recyclable, biodegradable and re-usable. The energy required to grow our timber supply is free. It comes from the sun.
• More than 1,750,000 Americans are employed in the forest products industry. Many millions more employed in the home construction, home furnishing, transportation and heavy equipment industries owe their jobs to this one basic industry that converts harvested timber to finished products.

* This information was provided by the Evergreen Magazine and NHLA's Forest Resource Fact Book.

Call to Action for Hardwood Companies
House Resolution 1477 – Call your Congressman!
Information provided by the Hardwood Federation

Action needed:  Please contact your U.S. Congressman and ask him or her to immediately sign on as a co-sponsor to House Resolution 1477. The resolution recognizes the importance and sustainability of the U.S. hardwoods industry in any program directed at constructing environmentally preferable commercial, public, or private buildings. Capitol switchboard number: 202-224-3121.

Background:  The U.S. Congress has repeatedly considered legislation which would mandate Green Building schemes for government buildings in order to guide architects, builders, customers, and public officials on materials and practices which are environmentally preferable.  Unfortunately, most U.S. hardwoods do not qualify for acceptance in most Green Building programs since reliance has been on certified wood as the preferred criteria. Therefore, the Hardwood Federation is working to ensure future green building legislation recognizes the environmental benefits of U.S. hardwoods and finished wood products. 

Status:  In response to a request from the Hardwood Federation and industry leaders, a group of hardwood supporters in Congress introduced the attached House Resolution 1477 as a first step towards giving hardwoods their deserved standing in green building preferences. The resolution lists numerous environmental, conservation, and energy related attributes of U.S. hardwoods. While the U.S. Congress cannot legislate a change in the current "Green Building" schemes, HR 1477 will be an important step towards putting hardwoods back into consideration as a Green Building material.

Congress is currently in adjournment but supporters can add their names to lists being compiled by the offices of Representatives Geoff Davis (R-KY) and Brad Ellsworth (D-IN).

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