The Journey of Tropical Wood: How Tropical Timber from the Congo Basin keeps Amsterdam Afloat

As an old Dutch saying goes, God created the world, but the Dutch created the Netherlands. Amsterdam, a city celebrated for its intricate network of canals, has always battled with the waters that shape and endanger its identity. Born two metres below the sea level, the city of canals is vulnerable to the rising tides of the North Sea. Faced with a unique challenge, the Dutch have crafted an innovative solution to keep their city afloat: managing the water levels through a system of lock gates.  

These lock gates are made of tropical wood from the Congo Basin rainforest, crossing the Atlantic and the North Sea before reaching the port of Amsterdam. From here the wood travels to specialized workshops producing durable and water-resistant lock gates. 

You may ask yourself what happens to the rainforests where this wood originates from. The Congo Basin is the second-largest rainforest on Earth, following the Amazon. However, it faces constant threats, such as land conversion for agriculture, livestock, and infrastructures. Losing this green lung is not an option as it would have fatal consequences for the rainfall in the Sahel and North Africa, leading to millions of climate migrants. 

Granting the forest with economic value, making it as valuable as cultivated land and a local source of income, incentivizes its preservation. The ultimate key lies in responsible forest management, which looks after the Congo Basin forest, its local communities, and the far away city of Amsterdam for years to come.  Therefore, Amsterdam and cities choosing FSC-certified wood for construction of lock gates, bridges and canal sides play a role in the Congo Basin rainforest’s conservation. 

You can follow the route of tropical wood through an interactive story map. Discover tree species, people and communities who touch the same piece of wood, and the places it connects.