Asia

Asien

In southern Japan and the southern part of central China, the deciduous forests merge with species-rich, evergreen forests containing species from the Lauraceae (laurel), Theaceae (tea), Magnoliaceae (magnolia) and Hammamelidaceae (witch hazel) families. Among the gymnosperms, there are some peculiar “living fossils”: Ginkgo (temple trees) and Metasequoia (dawn redwoods). Bamboo species can dominate locally. In the eastern Himalayas (Sikkim), the mountain rainforest grows at altitudes of between around 900 and 2000 m; it contains both tropical elements, such as screw palms and bamboo, and northern temperate genera such as Castanopsis and Lithocarpus (from the beech family). The rainforest is replaced by a coniferous forest zone and, in the cloud zone (approx. 2600 to 4000 m), by rhododendron thicket.

Large parts of Southeast Asia are covered by rainforests and monsoon forests, which are some of the Earth’s most species-rich vegetation types. Important families are screw palms, the ginger family, the Dipterocarpus family and the fig family. In dryer areas, such as inner Burma, the forests are deciduous and home to teak, among other species. In the Philippines and New Guinea there is a certain Australian element, such as Casuarina (Lophira Alata) and Eucalyptus. On high mountains there are also species from the genera that usually occur in the northern temperate regions, such as Ranunculus and star.

HMT buys a number of wood species from Asia. We have a clear and unequivocal requirement of FSC® certification, or another form of assurance that the forest and the local environment are treated in a responsible manner.