ReWood utilizes urban forest trimming waste as a resource to enhance the value of timber materials. It also establishes training stations to foster talent for sustainable forestry development.
Challenges Facing Taiwan's Forestry
Taiwan's timber and material sources currently rely 99% on imports, leading to a high carbon footprint and disrupting domestic woodworking techniques, impacting forestry ecology severely. Specific issues include a lack of skilled artisans among the younger generation, outdated logging equipment and practices, insufficient processing capabilities and creativity, and the ineffective utilization of domestic timber resources. Challenges also arise from the rapid growth of bamboo forests, which are difficult to manage, and the invasion of exotic species. ReWood Forest Circulation Hukou innovatively coordinates collaborative efforts to propose comprehensive solutions, aiming to address issues such as material sourcing, artisan skills, and labor shortages.
Upcycling of Wood Resources, Creating Local Green Employment
ReWood recycles waste wood from natural environments, transforming it into furniture, charcoal, wood vinegar, and other products. Through the "Forest Pruning Recycling" system, ReWood seeks to inspire everyone connected to the land to cherish and support Taiwan's mountain forests. Moreover, this system provides practical learning opportunities for return-to-homeland learners, forestry industry professionals, and students and teachers, contributing to the cultivation of talents essential for sustainable forestry development solutions.
Benefits
- Recycling 700 tons of residual forest wood each year [1] , offering a carbon reduction benefit equivalent to the annual CO2 absorption of Da'an Forest Park [2].
- Converting woods into high-value products such as furniture, charcoal, and wood vinegar, generating revenue of up to 3.6 million.
- Integrating 700 woodworking learners into the timber industry chain, nurturing 15 new artisan talents.
[1] The main source of timber is urban pruning, with a small portion coming from forest pruning.
[2] There is currently no official methodology for calculating the carbon reduction from upcycle waste wood resources into products, so the figures provided by ReWood are preliminary estimates.coming from forest pruning.