Re: re: Endangered Tropical Woods

Elfpermacl@aol.com
Sat, 14 Sep 1996 09:25:37 -0400

The whole issue of whether certain tropical woods are endangered or not leads
back to the reason for bioregionalism. If you find the local, temperate
species that produce the musical quality you require in your instruments,
they you can judge whether or not they can be cut, because you can directly
evaluate the effects on the species populations of such a choice. The further
the species from your bioregion, the less you can act responsibly about it.
Of course you can visit the jungle and observe for yourself, but then you
need to ask about the ecological effects of your transportation. Ad
infiinitum.

I seem to recall that we have at least one group of woodworkers that
specializes in temperate species rather than tropical species listed in our
directory, TRIP. (The Resources of International Permaculture, available in
print and on disk). If you want to consider temperate species, I'll search
the address. I'm pretty sure that we don't have a keyword for this request,
so it will take a little time which I'll gladly donate if you are sincerely
interested. These people likely will be able to direct you to instrument
makers with similar concerns (it would be too much luck if some of them are
instrument makers) and you might then an answer from people who have really
examined the issue as experts.

For Mother Earth, Dan Hemenway, Yankee Permaculture Publications (since
1982), Elfin Permaculture workshops, lectures, Permaculture Design Courses,
consulting and permaculture designs (since 1981), and The Forest Ecosystem
Food Network. P.O. Box 2052, Ocala FL 34478-2052 USA.

"We don't have time to rush."