THtr SOU]IHLAND

By WAYNE GARDNER executive vice president

A FEW years ag'o "ecology" became '-a new word in the vocabulary of most people. Today it is a household word. Its meaning may not be fully understood by everyone but each lumberman should be knowledgeable to the point of explaining to customers and the public in his particular community what the lumber industry is doing to improve the environment in which we live.

Great quantities of extremely valid information is available through Lumber Association of Southern California and other associations; yours for the asking!

Be prepared to answer questions from those who would criticize the lumber industry and inform those who are not critical openly but may be thinking bad thoughts. Be prepared to answer those critical of hanresting mature forests by pointing out to them that old trees consume all the oxygen they produce; whereas, vigorously growing, young trees on a sin- gle acre can supply enough oxygen, in addition to their own needs, for the needs of eighteen human beings.

Be prepared to point out that we are planting and growing better trees today, therefore th6 cutover area recovers its appearance much faster than in previous years, and the production of oxygen is much greater.

Be prepared to point out that studies today show that 93% of the log ends up in useful products for man. There are more than 5,000 wood products-many so useful that they are