In September, Tom Bedell, Founder of Bedell Guitars, participated in the World Forestry Congress in Durban, South Africa. As the only attending guitar company representative, his message hit a strong chord with many of the 3,200 attendees. “Clearly sovereign governments and consumer products companies relying on our forests must take the responsibility to stop deforestation,” announced Bedell. He continued, “In the end, the survival of our hardwood and rainforests is far more essential than consuming them in our products. Besides, we can craft incredible musical instruments while honoring our forests and the people, cultures and economies that have lived among them for centuries.”
Bedell makes the case that the path away from wood-based products is becoming easier and far more reliable. According to Bedell, it is a moral and ethical obligation to partner with organizations pioneering DNA verification, satellite monitoring, and economic and cultural alternatives—developing technologies that help monitor the harvest of challenged species and their chain of custody. One of the strong messages Bedell left the World Forestry Congress is that musical instrument companies need to refuse to use illegally harvested trees and refuse the use of woods that threaten the sustainability not only of endangered species but entire ecosystems.