A shortage timber worldwide is causing a dearth supply and major problems for housing and construction industry. The decrease the availability of timber has caused a sharp spike the prices of newly built homes the world. In some countries, the price builders pay timber has shot up by about 25 per cent. One of the reasons builders are struggling to get supplies is because people have been repairing or reforming their homes lockdown. Another reason is that post-lockdown construction and additional DIY projects have created "extraordinary demand". A timber trade federation said suppliers were "working the clock" but are "struggling to keep ".
Environmental scientists assert that a major reason the shortage is climate change. Global warming is increasing the pressure the sustainability forests. An increase the number of wildfires is causing great damage to large swathes forest. Many have been completely razed to the ground. The warmer weather has also caused a proliferation the number pests that cause damage to trees and stunt tree growth. Sweden, which supplies almost half the wood used the UK, has recorded its lowest timber stocks 20 years. A solution the UK has come with is to plant more trees. It said it is "committed to trebling tree planting rates". A builder joked that he didn't have time those trees to grow.
