Feature Presentation

April 22 is Earth Day '99 followed a week later by Arbor Day on April 30. And no one should celebrate more than guitarists and players of stringed instruments. For these musicians' very "lifeblood" is the natural wood from which their instruments are crafted--a natural resource that is continually threatened by advancing civilization.

Since 1996, Gibson Musical Instruments has pioneered the production of Smartwood guitars--instruments made from environmentally friendly Smartwood certified by the Rainforest Alliance. These instruments include the the Les Paul Smartwood Standard and the newest Gibson Smartwoods--the Les Paul Smartwood Exotics made from six of of the world's most prized, rare, and beautiful tropical woods harvested from managed, renewable forests of Paraguay. These are true Les Pauls with the sound and feel of the celebrated original. Yet they also reflect Gibson's commitment to both innovation as well as social and environmental responsibility. Since Gibson introduced the Smartwood Standard in 1996 only the Martin Guitar Company among the major guitar manufacturers has produced a commercial, widely available Smartwood instrument.

"Gibson's inventors and craftspeople have always been the leaders in innovation... from Orville H. Gibson and Lloyd Loar to Les Paul and Chet Atkins. Today, we mark a new era in the production of cost-effective musical instruments whose manufacture does not jeopardize the life-giving rainforests of the world," says Henry Juszkiewicz, Chairman and CEO of Gibson Musical Instruments.

To learn more and get involved visit these sites on the grand www:

The Challenge

Unsustainable forest management has caused massive soil erosion and biodiversity loss, as well as negatively effecting the economic future of many communities around the globe, especially in the Tropics. Significant forest loss is also dramatically reducing the world's oxygen supply, imperative for our continued survival. The careful management of remaining forestlands will greatly determine our collective ability to accommodate the world's growing needs for wood, as well as the future of the planet's biodiversity.

The Solution

Timber production, when managed effectively, maintains the long-term viability of commercial forests, protects biodiversity, and provides a continuous stream of social and economic benefits. Because timber markets largely dictate forestry practices, SmartWood has created economic incentives to achieve and maintain high standards for forest management worldwide. SmartWood rewards its seal of approval to responsible manufacturers and forest managers who market their certified products to a growing number of environmentally conscious consumers.
Certification:

Ensures that timber harvesting is ecologically sound, and socially and economically beneficial to local communities
Creates market incentives for producers to responsibly manage forests and harvest timber
Gives consumers the power to positively "vote" for conservation when they buy certified wood products
Contributes to the preservation of forests and forest wildlife worldwide.

See the Les Paul Smartwood Standard and Smartwood exotics at your nearest authorized Gibson dealer or call 1-800-4GIBSON for more information.