Stunning New Product Designs
Help Support Sustainable Forestry in Costa Rica's Secondary Forests
SUSTAINABLE DESIGN: The prototype hammock designed at the School of Woodcarving and Carpentry in Berchtesgaden, Germany. WINNING DESIGN: The ITTO project developed prototype designs using timber from secondary species, including this modular wall light. Source: CFMI
Working in partnership with the design community, several new products were designed using timber from Costa Rica’s secondary forests. This was part of a project funded by the International Tropical Timber Organization (ITTO) that identified new products and strategies to help communities make more effective use of sustainably managed secondary forests. The designs were selected from participants in an international design competition among Costa Rican educational institutions and a carpentry program collaboration.
The award-winning designs from the competition included a modular wall light, a lamp, a dough proofer, and a workspace. Two additional prototypes—a hammock and a set of coasters—were the result of a collaboration with a carpentry institute. Based on these prototypes, prospective market surveys were completed. The results indicated handicrafts as a significant market segment, particularly given its overlap with tourism, an important economic sector in Costa Rica.
Costa Rica has a strong track record in forest and biodiversity conservation, with approximately 2.5 million acres of established secondary forest. These forests grow as a progression of the original forest on the same land. Secondary forests are not only valuable for timber production and the creation of rural employment, but also capture carbon at a high rate, while providing water and soil protection and supporting biodiversity.
These secondary forests face a multitude of demands from their small landowners and the surrounding community. The forest is a key source of livelihood. Designing market prototypes was part of a larger project to start examining feasible markets that could support the forest health of Costa Rica’s secondary forests. Key species to include in conservation and management efforts were identified and those woods were used to examine possible markets.
Building successful markets for products made from these woods helps conserve these forests, improve their management and can be a lever to boost local economies and increase the resilience of rural communities. This new product design and market development is an important part of those conservation efforts.
Project outputs can be found by inserting the project code PP-A/59-353 into the ITTO project search function atwww.itto.int/project_search. Excerpts taken from ITTO article by Natalia Chacón Executive Director, Forestry, Wood and Industry Chamber of Costa Rica. This project was executed by The International Tropical Timber Organization (ITTO) which is an intergovernmental organization promoting the sustainable management and conservation of tropical forests and the expansion and diversification of international trade in tropical timber from sustainably managed and legally harvested forests.
Frequently asked questions
What new products were designed using timber from Costa Rica's secondary forests?+
The award-winning designs included a modular wall light, a lamp, a dough proofer, and a workspace. Two additional prototypes—a hammock and a set of coasters—were created through a collaboration with a carpentry institute.
Who funded the Costa Rica secondary forest product design project?+
The project was funded by the International Tropical Timber Organization (ITTO), an intergovernmental organization promoting sustainable management and conservation of tropical forests and the expansion of trade in tropical timber from sustainably managed and legally harvested forests.
Why are secondary forests in Costa Rica important?+
Costa Rica has approximately 2.5 million acres of established secondary forest. These forests are valuable for timber production and rural employment, capture carbon at a high rate, provide water and soil protection, and support biodiversity.
What market segment showed the most promise for products made from Costa Rican secondary forest timber?+
Prospective market surveys indicated handicrafts as a significant market segment, particularly due to its overlap with tourism, which is an important economic sector in Costa Rica.
How does building markets for secondary forest wood products support conservation?+
Successful markets for these products help conserve the forests and improve their management, while also boosting local economies and increasing the resilience of rural communities that depend on the forest for their livelihood.
Where can project outputs from the ITTO Costa Rica secondary forest project be found?+
Project outputs can be accessed by entering the project code PP-A/59-353 into the ITTO project search function at www.itto.int/project_search.