Forests, Footprints & the Future – An Earth Day Special

In this Earth Day special, host David Muil sits down with forestry expert Ciara McCarthy to explore the vital role forests play in our global ecosystem. From absorbing billions of tons of carbon dioxide to supporting biodiversity and Indigenous communities, forests are far more than just trees. Ciara unpacks the threat of deforestation, the promise of sustainable forestry, and what global regulations like the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) mean for the future of forest products. Plus, learn how everyday consumers can make a difference—just by knowing what labels to look for.

Whether you're a sustainability professional or simply curious about the hidden world behind the paper and wood products we use every day, this episode offers powerful insights and practical tips for making forest-friendly choices.

Tune in now to learn more!

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Transcript

David Muil
Hi everyone and welcome to our Earth Day special. My name is David Muil and today we are diving into one of nature's most powerful systems—forests. With us today is Ciara McCarthy, a forestry expert who's been working in the field for over a decade. Thanks for joining us, Ciara.

Ciara McCarthy
Thanks for having me, David. I always say I'm very excited to talk about anything to do with trees or forests. And I love having the educational role as much as possible. And yeah, there's a lot more to forests than most people realise.

David Muil
Well, that's terrific. Let’s get started. Maybe we can begin with the big picture. I think the question on everybody’s minds is: Why are forests so important when we talk about Earth Day and protecting the planet?

Ciara McCarthy
Yeah, well, forests are the—well, I would say—unsung heroes of the environment. But at this stage, there's so much information readily available for what forests do when you look at social media.
They're incredibly important as an environment. They cover 31% of the Earth's land and are crucial in absorbing carbon dioxide—around 2.6 billion tons every year. They help fight climate change, support biodiversity, and even regulate water cycles, which is important in your water catchment area and to prevent soil erosion.
In fact, last month we had World Forest Day. Clearly, they're very important in their own right. But instead of a day, I think we really need to be conducting daily work to conserve these ecosystems.

David Muil
I couldn't agree with you more. So when we look at forestry, they’re really climate champions and also a home to wildlife, right?

Ciara McCarthy
Absolutely, yeah. Forests are habitats for over 80% of terrestrial species, and beyond that, more than 1.6 billion people depend on forests directly—for things like food, fuel, and medicine.
And I think it's clear that we all indirectly rely on forests for the ecosystem services they provide. It doesn’t take long before we are linked back to various different things that the system provides to us on a daily basis, and it goes back to water catchments and how important they are.

David Muil
That’s interesting. I don’t think the general public really has an appreciation for the value of forests and what they do on a day-to-day basis. I mean, that’s huge—1.6 billion people depend on them directly.
But we hear a lot about deforestation and different standards coming out. How serious is this deforestation threat?

Ciara McCarthy
Unfortunately, it’s very serious.
We are losing forests at a rate of about 10 million hectares a year, which is significant. That’s often driven by agriculture, illegal logging, and infrastructure development. You’ve got competing needs on the land.
When forests are lost, it’s not just the trees—it’s the ecosystems, the species, and sometimes entire cultures that are affected.
And deforestation isn’t harvesting trees as part of a forestry practice—it’s removing the trees and not replacing them, and changing the land use.
We do hear a lot about land use changes as part of the commentary around forestry and climate change.
And as I mentioned, regarding the drivers of deforestation—it’s worth mentioning an important regulation coming into effect at the end of this year, 2025, which is the EUDR—the European Union Deforestation Regulation.
This covers several commodities that we source. This regulation is to ensure that any products, from timber to rubber, soy, cocoa, coffee, beef, and palm oil, are not sourced from land that was deforested after the 31st of December 2020.

David Muil
Interesting. And deforestation also fuels climate change, right? There’s a direct link?

Ciara McCarthy
Yeah, absolutely. Deforestation releases the carbon stored in trees, which adds to the problem. So it’s a double hit—we lose the carbon sink that captures carbon from the atmosphere, and then that stored carbon is released into the environment.
And these are elements that countries must report as part of the Paris Agreement—whether you're increasing or decreasing the level of forestry in your country.
These are statistics we have access to and must be reported on if the country is a signatory of the Paris Agreement.

David Muil
Terrific. There are challenges we’re facing globally, but there’s also good news on the horizon in terms of sustainable forestry and the acronym that’s being used. Can you tell us what that’s all about?

Ciara McCarthy
Sure, yeah. And I don’t want to be all doom and gloom—there is a lot of excellent work out there.
Sustainable forestry means we manage forests in a way that meets our current needs without compromising the future. This includes responsible harvesting, replanting, protecting biodiversity, and respecting Indigenous rights.
EUDR is part of this—it’s a regulation ensuring that if timber is sourced, it is done responsibly. We still need timber in our supply chain, but we need to make sure we’re not borrowing heavily—or at all—from the future. We must meet demand today but also protect the ecosystems that timber comes from.

David Muil
That’s great information. As a consumer, much like our audience, I see products labelled with FSC or PEFC on wood and paper products. Do they actually help?

Ciara McCarthy
They do. These are very important certifications. They’ve existed for quite a number of years and are growing—no pun intended.
These certifications tell you that the product came from responsibly managed forests. It’s like a sustainability stamp of approval, and it does make a difference.
Our team of forest auditors ensures companies are acting responsibly. Once timber leaves the forest gate and enters production facilities to become final products, our auditors watch every step.
We look at forest management to ensure trees are replanted, biodiversity is protected, and then track the timber as it becomes lumber, furniture, toys, paper, or rubber.
We monitor volumes, check for mixing risks, and uphold core labour requirements at every stage—from production to traders to retailers.
In the UK, for example, a consumer might buy lumber from B&Q. In your part of the world, David, what store would that be?

David Muil
That’d be Home Depot.

Ciara McCarthy
Yes, exactly—Home Depot. We follow the product right into those stores where it becomes available to consumers.

David Muil
Very good. Great information. So we've got auditors doing their job and holding people accountable, following the traceability chain. But what can the rest of us do this Earth Day to make a contribution?

Ciara McCarthy
I’d say start with what you buy—look for certified forest products.
Check your milk carton, your alternative milk, or your orange juice Tetra Paks. You’ll often find the FSC logo there.
You’ll also see it inside books and on printer paper. Once you know the logo, you’ll start seeing it everywhere.
Support companies that prioritise sustainability. And don’t underestimate the power of your voice—push for policies that protect forests and Indigenous communities.
Talk about these issues with friends and family—it really helps raise awareness.
When I explain my work, I refer to the green frog on bananas—that’s the Rainforest Alliance logo. Timber has a similar label; it follows the same sustainable path.
It’s not always obvious in daily life, but once you recognise those logos—FSC, PEFC, and others—you’ll know what they mean.
We do have purchasing power, and we’re lucky in many cases to have a choice. That choice makes a difference upstream for forests and the communities they support. I hope that helps as a starting point.

David Muil
That’s terrific. I think the key comment there was raising awareness and keeping the conversation going—I absolutely love that.
You know, trees might not talk, but they’ve got a lot to say if we’re actually listening.
Thanks so much for joining us, Ciara, and happy Earth Day to you. Keep up the great work.

Ciara McCarthy
Thanks, David. Thanks for having me. And happy Earth Day to everyone out there—it’s a call to arms. We need everyone’s help in this area, for sure. Thank you.