Earther: Prized Forests Lost Big at This Year’s Olympics

“Half of the tropical plywood used in Japan comes from the Malaysian state of Sarawak on the island of Borneo, which has one of the highest rates of deforestation in the world and a high risk of illegal logging. The wood is used, not for decorative purposes, but to create concrete forms, the disposable molds built to shape concrete into wall, supports or other structures, Hana Heineken, a Senior Advisor at the Rainforest Action Network, told Earther.

“Japan’s use of tropical timber is a huge cause of deforestation in Southeast Asia,” said Heineken.” (Read More)