Tonight the Avon by the Sea Council will be holding a meeting on the construction of their boardwalk. Currently the town is proposing to use Ipe (e-pay) wood in the reconstruction. Ipe is a tropical hardwood found in the Amazon Rainforest.
The Sierra Club and other environmental groups have raised concerns over the use of this wood. Belmar recently decided not to use the wood after widespread opposition from environmental groups. We know that the community wants to rebuild the boardwalk as quickly as possible but this must not be used as an excuse to undermine environmental protections not just in New Jersey but internationally.
As shore communities rebuild we must not do so in a way that significantly contributes to greenhouse gas pollution. Our rebuilding efforts must not increase the future impacts of climate change.
We want the shore to rebuild as quickly as possible, however they should not do it at the expense of tropical rainforests. Using rainforest woods will increase impacts on climate change and storm surge affecting Avon by the Sea and other shore communities even more.
As a community that has suffered catastrophic impacts from storm surge and sea level rise, Avon by the Sea should be concerned about the impacts of global climate change and the impacts from severe weather. Clear cutting rainforests in the Amazon should not be promoted especially since there is no sustainable way to harvest Ipe and there are no certified programs to do so. Using this wood impacts critically and environmentally important rainforest and adds greenhouse gases, increasing climate disruption.
There is no way to sustainably harvested Ipe. Anybody who says they can sustainable harvest Ipe is lying. When they clear cut the soil erodes and when they try to replant the trees they all die. It ends up becoming grazing land or sugar cane adding to global warming and sea level rise.
Using Ipe results in the destruction of many of the last remaining places for important species that are in some cases more than endangered. Using Ipe results in the destruction of places that are important for scientific research and help develop important biomedical advances. These practices chase indigenous people out of their historic homelands. Shipping the wood over 6,000 miles from the Amazon increases the climate change footprint of the boardwalk project. We believe using public money to pay for this unsustainable wood is wrong.
There are better alternatives. Plastic wood such as trex and other recycled plastic woods are actually better because do not get splinters, they are cooling on your feet when walking barefoot, they are softer if people fall, and they last longer. By using the recycled plastic help protect rainforests.
Alternatives woods can also be used. Black locust is an invasive species in the northeast which can be used. The municipality should also look at using salvaged wood, especially in the wake of Hurricane Sandy. Weather Proofed Ash found in North America and Canada is an alternative used heavily by European nations and is another alternative Ipe.
The lesson of Hurricane Sandy is that we need to build things better and smarter not repeating the past. We must look at the world when it comes to climate disruption more holistically. Avon by the Sea’s gain of a new boardwalk should not be at the expense of our rainforest.
Jeff Tittel, as identified in his is Director of the New Jersey chapter of the Sierra Club.
And even if only some washed out to sea what happens to it? It does not decompose like real wood. It breaks apart into tiny pieces and that can then be ingested by marine life.
I also like how you think all of the earths oxygen is being produced in the amazon rain forest your retard.
Plastic is bad. [Jeff said so. Must be true.] Why is plastic wood so much better than real wood? [Jeff said so. Must be true.] Jeff also suggested we should not build on or near the shore because storms like Sandy are the new norm. Storms won't destroy plastic boardwalks? What do you say? More insults?
Plastic is a horrible idea, looks fake, scratches, can't be replaced, gets hotter than hell. IPE, my buy American didn't go far, how about a town not using the most expensive product on the market, fsc material adding at least another 25% to the bill. I agree it's beautiful, I sell the stuff, but there are better options for a town that has a lot of rebuilding to get done.
Referring to his 8th. paragraph he says "plastic wood" [his words]. He lists the qualities of plastic wood. He says these qualities make it a better alternative to ipe wood. The same has to apply to all wood since the only difference and the argument here is that ipe is from a rain forest. He is indeed saying plastic wood is better than real wood. Now your statement, ..." Jeff does not say plastic is better than wood - he lists plastic and wood products that are better". Talk about linguistic gymnastics. You have a future as crooked politician's press secretary. I don't get it. I've asked several times, different ways. Perhaps it my poor reading comprehension? I missed a response? If our boardwalks are going to be destroyed again by super storms shouldn't we use materials that are not ecologically harmful? That is real wood, not pie, but some kind of real wood instead of products that are largely plastic? Type s l o w l y for me.
But some of that same plastic under tons of dirt in a landfill where it is not exposed to any life is somehow a horrible thing. If you follow Jeff's logic you wind up in a circle bumping into your own ass.
Everyone wants it be decking of some sort and not cement. We also drive cars that only get 10 MPG. Sometimes you have to give up on stuff thats no good. I am with you on the black locust if it is going to be wood. That stuff is iron clad. I have seen 100 year old black locust fence that still dose it's job. KEEP THE MONEY IN AMERICA
Boardwalks should be built out of wood, American wood. Pressure treated was fine for my grandparents and parents, its fine for me as well, conservatism rules the day!