Connects Forest Health and New Construction Technologies

A recent webinar hosted by Grow Smart Rhode Island considered the connection and correlation between forest health and new wood-construction technologies in a combination that can significantly reduce carbon emissions. Presentations by Frank Lowenstein, deputy director of the nonprofit New England Forestry Foundation (NEFF) and David Odeh, principal at North Providence-based Odeh Engineers In., highlighted the “We Need the Forest to Fight Climate Change” discussion. While they provided different areas of expertise, they connected on the central issue: Proper forest management and innovative construction using new wood products will lessen carbon emissions. Increased use of new wood products like CLT, Lowenstein added, can become part of systematic plans for forest maintenance and conservation. He said using newer tree growth for green timber during construction allows older trees to mature so that they offer maximum environmental benefit.