Allison Walker, Your Home

The kind of material you choose to decorate your home could help rebuild rainforests and save our trees, according to a reforestation expert from Costa Rica who partners with a Central Florida business.

Fred Morgan grows Ojoche, Spanish cedar and teak at the Finca Leola tree plantation in Costa Rica in an effort to to help rebuild the rainforest. They are called pioneer species.

Morgan said that in order to turn land into a rainforest, people need to grow these types of trees.
 
Because some of these trees are meant to only last a short time to help bigger trees grow, he cuts them down and sells them to places like Craig Bell's company in Indian Harbor Beach.

Bell then turns that wood and bamboo into home decor. 

"Picture frames, mirrors, coat racks, bookshelves," Bell said.

Bamboo isn't part of Morgan's reforestation effort in Costa Rica, but it is environmentally-friendly choice.

"It grows so quickly. It's such a renewable source. It's such a versatile source," Bell explained.
 
So next time you buy something made of bamboo, teak, Ojoche or Spanish Cedar, you are actually helping to rebuild the rainforest.

"We have over 500 acres that we've brought back to rainforest already," Morgan said.

But if you had to choose, are pioneer trees better than bamboo?

"These are all being used to bring back the rainforest, so they're at least as friendly," Morgan said.

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