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To ease strain on RP forests
Fiber cement as wood alternative pushed
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Dingalan, Aurora - In wake of
the extensive damage caused by the recent succession of
typhoons in Luzon, environmentalists have called for a
shift from wood and wood products.
They say that the demand for wood is the main
reason for logging activities that have depleted much
of the country’s forests.
In the Philippines and elsewhere, wood is sought after
for its warm, homey look and its flexibility. In recent
years, however, demand for wood has outstripped supply,
causing prices to soar and making it an even more coveted
building material.
This has caused rampant illegal logging in many areas.
As recent events showed, the unabated demand for wood,
coupled with wanton large-scale tree cutting, exacts a
heavy price, environmentalists said.
Because of this situation, a movement for protection of
the environment has resulted in, among others, the development
of products that approximate—if not surpass—the
qualities of wood.
These products include the fiber cement board, a breakthrough
building material developed by James Hardie in 1980.
HardiFlex cement boards are made of a combination of cement,
sand and cellulose fibers. The cellulose fibers are imported
from sustainably-managed, commercial plantations that
operate on a renewal-resource basis, with fresh re-plantings
after harvesting.
The James Hardie fiber cement boards in the form of boards
and planks are said to be resistant to fire, water and
termites, easy to install, and low-maintenance. Utilizing
durable alternative building materials will assure one
of a durable, long-lasting home. Aside from that, doing
so will help ease the strain on the country’s resources
and help prevent a repeat of the landslides and “flash
floods” that killed thousands of people and destroyed
millions of pesos worth of crops and property.
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