By José Arias
El Inmobiliario
Photos: Fidel Pérez
Wood is a natural element that makes up most of a tree trunk. It is composed of cellulose fibers bound together with lignin. Once cut and dried, it is used in building construction and, historically, in transportation such as ships and carriages, as well as in the manufacture of furniture and other items. When used as fuel, it is called firewood. It is also used to make pulp, the raw material for papermaking.
The word "madera" (wood) is a word inherited from Latin: materia (tree wood), "construction wood," "materials," "materia." Of the same origin as materia, the word retains the more restricted Latin meaning of "hard, fibrous substance of trees.".
Wood has been a part, totally or partially, of the buildings constructed by man since the Neolithic period; before he had tools with sufficient cutting capacity to work it, it is very likely that he already used it as a building material for his first shelters.
Wood types can be subdivided into two main categories: softwoods and hardwoods. Softwoods include cedar, fir, and pine, among others. Hardwoods include cherry, beech, walnut, and oak.
Throughout human history, wood has been one of the most widely used building materials due to its quality and durability for decades, and it has brought profitability to the industry in countries such as Canada, the United States, Spain, and Colombia.
The arrival of the Industrial Revolution introduced concrete and steel as substitutes for traditional materials in structures such as railways, ships, and even airplanes. However, their role is not secondary in the world of construction, but rather complementary, adding elegance, clarity, and distinction to the infrastructure they enhance.
The earliest uses of wood were limited to hunting and fishing (harpoons, boats, and oars) by our earliest ancestors. Extreme natural phenomena and the threat of wild animals forced humans to seek safe and sustainable shelters, and wood played a crucial role in addressing this urgent need, contributing to the construction of structures to combat the harshness of the sun, snow, and rain. Thus, wood became one of the primary building materials for the first dwellings on the planet.
In Ancient Egypt, wood was used not only for buildings and weapons, but also to create sculptures of their deities. Similarly, the peoples of the East, whose source of income was commercial shipping, used wood to build ships and other vessels.
Without excluding the global impact to this day of the ships La Pinta, La Niña and La Santa María, commanded by Christopher Columbus, which facilitated the encounter between two civilizations in 1492.
Impact on the Dominican market
Given the need to preserve the environment and the sustainability of Dominican forests, a series of public policies are being implemented in the context of the timber industry based on the use of forests and forest cover.
In the international market, the pandemic boosted the sector's profitability due to increased demand for new homes and renovations. In the Dominican Republic, it created a need for greater incentives for local production.
The Dominican timber sector has more than 5,000 producers. Currently, there is a reduction in demand due to weather conditions and the impact of COVID-19, and an increase in raw material imports, according to a 2021 report by Mercado magazine.
The same report indicates that Dominican timber companies, grouped under the Dominican Forestry Chamber, are demanding better conditions from the authorities to promote the sustainable export of their forest products without harming the environment. Sixty percent of the national territory is suitable for forestry, but this potential is not being fully realized.
The research indicates that there are currently an estimated 100,000 hectares of planted forests nationwide, which could produce more than 800,000 cubic meters of wood per year, contradicting the import of between 180 and 200 million dollars in timber products per year.
It states that in 2019, prices for this product fell globally, primarily due to weak demand. The effects of climate change forced several companies to close and reduced their production.
While in 2020, the pandemic forced involuntary confinement, which led to renovations in housing that caused its price to rise, notably in the United States, a country that is a builder of wooden houses par excellence.
Madesol in the Dominican market
In the Dominican Republic, one of the most dynamic companies is Madesol, managed by Javier Darío Vargas Seija, a company with a significant impact on the market of importers of precious wood to the international market.
It has been dedicated for more than 25 years to the marketing of wood, its derivatives and complementary products (plywoods, MDF, melamines, locks, hinges, handles, hardware, tools, varnishes, paints, finished wood products).
Javier Darío Vargas Seija, manager of Madesol. (Fidel Pérez/El Inmobiliario).
Their market niche focuses on high-end products, which is why they conduct a careful selection process worldwide. “Our goal is to help our clients bring their projects to life, whether in the construction sector, the furniture industry, decoration, or other related areas,” says Vargas Seija.
Madesol is constantly innovating to offer a wide variety of products and services that meet market needs, with a team prepared to provide superior quality.
Itimports a wide variety of precious wood species from all over the world, including Central America, South America, North America, Europe, Asia, Africa, and Oceania. These include traditional varieties such as Brazilian Oak, Jequitiba, Mahogany, and Cedar, as well as more exotic options like Wenge, Zebrano, Walnut, and Teak.
The company boasts over 35 melamine colors, a variety of over 45 wood veneers, and a hardware store stocked with more than 10,000 items, positioning it as the most specialized and comprehensive company in the timber industry.
According to the executive, the company imports more than 15 million board feet of more than 30 species of precious wood, through its four branches located in Santiago, Santo Domingo Oeste, Santo Domingo Este and Bávaro.
Located on a 53,000 m² site, the company maintains a comprehensive inventory encompassing the following categories: precious woods, pine, boards, hardware, paint, and finished products. The company employs 300 people, including experienced leaders in each area.
The timber industry in the Dominican Republic sustains a profitability of great importance for the construction sector and the State as the main generator of public investment.
Sources: www.calameo.com
Wood Technology
Market Magazine
Originally published in the print edition of El Inmobiliario
