Doug Dugal column: Carbon balance is paper industry’s contribution

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It is reported that carbon dioxide, one of the greenhouse gases, contributes to global warming. Keep in mind that carbon dioxide is not a bad thing: It helps grow vegetation (forests) and also acts as a buffer in water so fish can survive.

Literature is exuding with information on global warming, organic farming and the green culture. These philosophies originate with the belief that any “change” in the environment is unacceptable. We forget that only one thing constant in nature is change, and without it there is no evolution.

The Conservatree Web site has reported, “No longer can resources (trees, water, and energy) be seen as ‘infinite.’”

But they missed the point that most of these “resources” exist in different forms and thus could be made available for a particular use provided we have the technology to do it. Follow nature’s principles. After all, the planet Earth keeps its “system” in balance by fixing and releasing elements (resources) all the time.

Surely, we must do our part. We must control overconsumption of goods, conserve energy, recycle everything, and generate minimal waste. Remember, “Waste is a raw material in wrong place.” Food chain in nature thrives on this principle; waste from one organism becomes food for another.

Paper industry and environment: Generally, industry is blamed for everything that goes wrong; some even call the paper industry one of the big polluters. I think the industry is one of the most environmentally friendly in the world. We use regenerable raw material, our production processes are efficient, our wastes and products are biodegradable and recyclable. Although we are large users of water, our treated wastewater is of good quality and, in many cases, better than the intake water.

According to Sam Martin, Ecology — Global Network, “Approximately 4 billion trees worldwide are cut each year for paper which is 35 percent of the total trees cut. Many of these trees come from tree farms which are planted and replenished for that purpose.” So, if the paper industry is looked upon as a releaser of carbon dioxide, it also “fixes” it through intensive reforestation. Forests take up carbon dioxide and help reduce contribution to global warming.

Although reforestation can also occur naturally if the area is left largely undisturbed, the resulting forest can provide both ecosystem and resource benefits such as pollution control, dust control and a major carbon sink.

According to information in Wikipedia, “The logging of small clearcuts and/or prescribed burning, actually increases the biodiversity in those areas by creating a greater variety of treestand ages and species. Those are some of the great plusses.

Glenn Ostle, Paper 360 Magazine, December issue, writes, “Markets are fickle and society is changing.” I think such changes will always happen. We need to be aware that the paper industry is doing its part. By planting more trees than cutting, it keeps the carbon balance in our favor.

Thus, I think, our future is bright as a natural materials and products industry. We just need to get going in areas of nifty paper products, specialty natural chemicals, pharmaceuticals, energy and clean water. We are a “green” industry. Our biggest drawback is “negative perception.”