We produced our lumber in a way that set a new standard for sustainability. We wanted to go beyond the current global standard, "Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) Certified." Here are eight features that make this lumber unlike any other.
#1. 100% All-Natural
Even FSC-Certified forestry projects use lots of poisonous chemicals. They apply insecticides, pesticides, fungicides, and herbicides. But our project did not use any chemicals. The boards are 100% all natural, safe for people and wildlife. You will not find carcinogens, formaldehyde or any other chemicals in this wood, unlike in pressure treated & composite products.
#2. Polyculture
Typical forestry projects, including nearly all FSC Certified ones, plant just one species. These monoculture stands are bad for land, water, and wildlife. But we used a polyculture approach. We planted nine different tree species, many of them at risk of extinction in Costa Rica. The once-barren site now looks and functions much like a natural rain forest (see photo). Toucans, parrots, monkeys and other wildlife have returned.
#3. The Trees Remain Alive after Harvest
Typical operations, including nearly all FSC Certified ones, kill the trees at harvest. But we harvested in a special way that kept the trees alive. New shoots popped out of each stump, powered by the existing roots. We picked the best new shoot to manage as the replacement trunk. The photo shows a 3-year-old teak shoot emerging from a stump. We can harvest the same tree every 20 years, a total of five times over the course of an century. Feel good knowing your lumber comes from trees that are still alive and well.
#4. Harvested by Oxen
Typical forestry projects, including FSC Certified ones, use bulldozers, backhoes, and tractors during harvest. All that heavy machinery creates air & noise pollution and damages the land. It also destroys forest to make new roads. But we used teams of oxen. These specially-trained gentle giants dragged logs out of the forest one at a time along a trail. No pollution. No damage.
#5. Small Carbon Footprint
Most teak comes from Asia. Shipping it halfway around the world creates a massive carbon footprint. But our teak came from nearby Costa Rica. It traveled fewer miles than the distance from New York City to Denver. This gives your lumber a much smaller carbon footprint than other exotic hardwoods. Even better, the trees pulled tons of carbon from the atmosphere while growing, then buried that carbon deep in the ground.
#6. Cultural Preservation
Costa Rica has a rich tradition of families who specialize in oxen. They once used colorful oxen-drawn carts to haul coffee beans from the Central Highlands to the Pacific and Atlantic coasts for shipment worldwide. But trains and trucks now haul the coffee. This has put the oxen-working families and their traditional lifestyle & knowledge at risk. Funds from our teak project have helped a local oxen-working family stay in business and preserve an important piece of culture.
#7. Local Nonprofit Partner
Unlike typical forestry projects, we have a strong partnership with a local non-profit conservation group: The Ecological Association of Paquera, Lepanto and Cóbano (ASEPALECO). ASEPALECO protects the Nicoya Peninsula's remaining water, wildlife, and other natural resources. We have worked closely with them on our forestry project since 1998. Check them out at this link. Even better, come stay at their nature reserve lodge next door to our property!
#8. No Political or Human Rights Issues
Most teak comes from Myanmar and Indonesia. If you buy that teak, then you support repressive governments notorious for human rights abuses, illegal logging and many other other issues. But our teak comes from Costa Rica, a country known for its good governance.
Bottom Line: Our "conservation teak" is a truly unique load of high-end exotic lumber. It's wood that matters for people who care.