What is this B.S. about saving trees by not using paper?

Question

Most paper is made from pine wood pulp. Pine trees are grown in pine plantations spaced 8 feet apart and harvested when they are pulpwood size and sent to the paper mill. Just like any other crop...it is planted and harvested. When prices are up you'll see more trees planted, when prices are down, less trees are planted. Reduced paper demand means lower prices for pulpwood therefore less trees. The grower will just plant something more profitable or clear the land for pasture or urban developement.

If you want trees to disappear.....just quit using paper and wood products! We have them only because they are valuable. When they have no monetary value, they will disappear.

I think most "paperless" folks are just duped by the computer people and the big corporations who just want you to do everything electronically just because it's cheaper for them and increases their profits.

Answer 1

good point. I think we should concentrate on saving the rain forests, and they don't use those trees for paper.

Answer 2

I have never heard your argument that 'when they have no monetary value they will disappear'.  Did you ever think that things in nature don't have to have a monetary value?  The earth has so many systems we can't even comprehend them all and how they interact.  You are very bold to say that trees will disappear when humans don't need them anymore.  Do you think that humans created trees?  I don't think so.

Trees are living organisms just like you and I.  They can be planted to harvest like you say (which is the best way to grow trees for paper, rather than taking down old-growth forests) but they do regenerate on their own.  If all the humans died today, trees would keep on regenerating without us.

Just like any other resource (oil, water, etc) there is no reason not to conserve and use it as little as possible.  Doing otherwise is just irresponsible.

Answer 3

What used to be in the areas where the pine plantations for paper now are????  Native trees that were cut down to plant those plantations.

Answer 4

I think paper is one of the least of our problems when it comes to deforestation, although it is a major problem none-the-less.  There are too many companies and enterprises that are freely able to cut down entire forests for materials that make them more wealthy.

I highly doubt that paper will disappear anytime in the next several generations.  Although, we should be concerned to a degree about slowing down the process that is destroying nature.

For those really concerned about deforestation for urban and modernizational purposes, plant a couple trees every now and then to help the birth rate of trees in comparison to their destruction rate.

Where is another Johny Appleseed when you need one? Heh.

Answer 5

So, I suppose by your logic, if you were no longer a productive member of society, you would be worthless, whose only value would come from grinding your body into dog food?  This is a ridiculous argument, because you're taking the "invisible hand" theory of capitalism to an all time extreme.  The free market will NOT protect something because it's valuable.  It will consume it.  Ever heard of ivory?  If the market were left to decide when a forest should be protected, it would only do so when ALMOST all the forests were harvested and gone.  Then it would put on a big fat admission, so people could check out what a forest looked like, because conservation would be more economically viabe than deforestation at that point.  It amazing that you're making the argument, "in order to save the trees, we must consume the trees."  Would you make the same argument with dolphins?  "Help save the dolphins everyone!  Start eating them!"  Value is NOT only measured in what can this raw material be turned into, so I can exchange money for the finished product (ex trees into paper).  A forest serves humanity in many different ways, which we have completely taken for granted.  Not only O2 production, but maintaining biodiversity, keeping the food web viable, reducing soil erosion, reducing runoff, providing people with natural experiences like camping (isn't that important too???), and yes commodities such as paper.  The world is not black and white, and your overly simplistic and cynical view of how to measure the importance of something is very askew in my opinion.  I'm certainly glad you're not in charge.

Answer 6

Obviously you don't have a clue about biodiversity or forest management.  You just like to bellyache about "big business" and how they make you jump through hoops.

You are what is known as a "Shallow Ecologist": a person who thinks life and nature can be controlled economically.  If you don't want to look like a fool in the future I suggest you do some research before you make ridiculous statements like this.

Answer 7

Why not plant trees for recreation and to offset global warning? Not just pine trees to make paper, but mixed species so that animals and birds will live in there.

I am sure there are more uses for land than development or farming only. What about land banking?

Anyway, with all the paper that can be recycled, why do new trees have to be cut down?

You forget that in making these lifeless plantations, trees have to be cut down. Likely a lot of them are beautiful mature trees.

Do you want the whole of the world planted with pines?

Answer 8

Exactly.  I have made this same point several times.  As far as I am concerned, recycling paper to save trees makes as much sense as recycling bread to save wheat.

Answer 9

Well, gee, then why did Westvaco clear-cut all the forests around my farm? Maybe they just don't like trees?

Answer 10

When the computer came to the fore in the 90s we were promised that this would be the end of paper.  Nearly 20 years later we are using more paper than ever.  I do not think that there is any chance that the world will ever go paper-less.  It sounds good but it is impractical.

Answer 11

Wait, you're wondering why environmentalists don't understand the industries they criticize?    Good one!

If they understood those industries they'd invest in them.

And Sweet you're wrong, it's more costly thus it requires more resources to make recycled paper than to make new paper, everywhere in the world other than areas where forest resources are scarce, like China.   Again, if you'd researched the industry you'd know this.

Answer 12

trees make paper.

Answer 13

Well, as far as the rain forests....... the Haitian's have actually ruined their environment by cutting most all the rainforest.  They cut the trees to make charcoal, which is there primary cooking fuel.  

Since the trees are gone, it doesn't rain, so everything is drying up.

It's vicious cycle.  They need the trees to live, but they kill the trees so they can make a living.

Answer 14

It takes more energy to produce paper from trees than from recycled paper.  The idea is to use recycled paper for this reason.  TO CONSERVE ENERGY. By using recycled paper to produce new paper you do not take away for the industry you just make it more efficient.  As far as a paperless society is concerned, I don't think so.

Answer 15

Trees take a very long time to grow.  We need them for shade, good air quality, and a nice, natural environment.  Cutting down trees spoils the air, and ruins our environment.  

Not everything needs to be done electronically.  You can buy notebooks and other paper products that have been recycled, or legalize the growth of the (industrial) hemp plant for making paper and many other things--rather than cutting down more trees.