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52 North American Natural Resources: Timber and Forest Products
The health and structure of our forests today are influenced by several factors.
One is the demand for forest resources by humans. Forest resources such as timber
for building and wood products for heating are needed at an increasing rate. Forested
land is still cleared, although not at quite the rate it was in the past, to make room for
new development and for livestock. Recycling efforts to reduce the need for wood for
paper products have helped the situation. Reforestation efforts are working to replace
timber and forest resources.
Mexico provides a good example. Conifers make up more than 80 percent of
the Mexican timber industry. Policies are now in place to protect and renew these
valuable resources. Most of the timber that is harvested comes from mountainous
National Park of Palenque, in Chiapas, Mexico.