As a result the Lesser Known Timber Species website has become case focused and showcases real life examples of use of tropical timber species. The database holds more than 200 species and 50 cases but more will be added as new cases and data become available. Loa Dalgaard Worm, FSC Denmark, says about the re-focus of the database:
”It was important for us to create a tool that empowers wood specifiers to break their habits. A lot of them are open to the use of new species and to broaden their horizon, but they don’t know what to use instead. The new database shows you real life cases with pictures and data from projects, where the suggested species have been used.”
The new website is a source of inspiration and guidance for timber and wood users as construction managers, building advisors, architects and designers.
The website includes over 50 picture based cases showing the use of lesser known timber species in projects such as buildings, poles, decks, bridges and furniture.
Companies and suppliers are welcomed to add their projects with FSC-certified lesser known timber species in the database. The cases can be searched by species, functionality, country, etc.
Loa Dalgaard Worm, FSC Denmark, hopes to see the database being just a widely used as its predecessor and to inspire to a new approach:
“We have already experienced a broad interest in the LKTS database. The building sector has opened up, looking for new and better ways to improve the environmental and social impact of their projects. From architects and designers we experience a great interest in the aesthetics as well. All these new species seems to spark creativity. Therefore we are really excited about the launch and hope to see the amount of cases jump through the roof!”
Promoting and choosing LKTS play an important role in protecting the biodiversity of the world’s forests.
By continuing to use only a small selection of species, these species are not only put in danger of extinction as the demand grows. At the same time forest owners are deprived of the business opportunity to sell from a broader range of species.
Promoting LKTS is a way to motivate forest owners to protect the forests diversity and at the same time a way to combat competing and damaging use of forestland like plantations and agriculture.
The Lesser Known Timber Species database can be found here.
The website is funded by Danida (Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark) and developed in collaboration with Innovita and Cirad and a broad range of companies.
If you want to upload your own FSC-certified cases with the use of lesser known timber species or if you have any questions, please contact Kristian Jørgensen from FSC Denmark at kristian@fsc.dk