SHANGHAI: If you conduct a survey to determine what materials are used when constructing houses in modern China, you would probably find more than 90 per cent of the housing projects are built with concrete and steel.

Another important material wood is seldom used by contemporary Chinese architects, especially when they design large public facilities.

The American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) is pledging to take the opportunities arising from the 2008 Olympics in Beijing and 2010 World Expo in Shanghai to promote the concept of timber structures across China.

It's ironic, considering wooden houses had been used in China for thousands of years.

Paul Boardman, director of AF&PA in China, says wood is being rapidly adopted as a material for building structures in modern China.

Statistics from the association indicate the use of treated-wood products such as structural materials in homes and bridges in the country grew 50 per cent last year. It is expected to continue growing at a high speed over the coming few years.

AF&PA hopes to use opportunities arising from the Olympics and World Expo to demonstrate the advantages of wooden structures in large-scaled public facilities.

Boardman tells China Business Weekly the association is in close contact with the organizing committees of the two events.

Xu Fang, AF&PA's technical director, says wood is a natural and renewable resource, which is energy-efficient and environmentally friendly.

"We believe wood is the best choice for Chinese who want to demonstrate the modernity of their designs, while saving energy costs," Xu says.

He notes studies conducted by American academic institutions indicate wood frames have been proven to save as much as 12-14 per cent in energy costs.

Xu says promoting wood as a construction material is in line with the Chinese Government's policy of saving energy.

Also, wood is one of the few cost-effective renewable natural resources available for construction, Xu adds.

Xu says AF&PA encourages the rational use of wood resources.

"All of our products are from certificated renewable forests," he says.

Using wood as a construction material does not violate China's policy of protecting forest resources, he adds.

Xu says the important point is an advanced-management system of forests.

"The government should encourage the planting of trees, while permitting planned deforestation."

Using wood in construction projects will improve the development of a sustainable forest-management system in China, Xu says.

"We need to plant trees. Meanwhile, we need to use, rather than preserve, forest resources. Only in this way will China's forests assist the development of society," he says.

China recently began using wood to build townhouses, resorts and small pavilions in some parks, such as the bridges in Suzhou Industrial Park, villas in Beijing's suburbs and a wooden-framed pedestrian road along the coastline of Qingdao, in East China's Shandong Province.

However, wooden frames are still new to large-scale public facilities.

"The two events will grant golden opportunities for wood-framed buildings," Boardman says.

The association sent a delegation of US-based forest product companies to Shanghai early in June to promote the concept of wood-framed buildings.

Boardman says the organizing committee for the 2010 World Expo have shown great interest in such concepts, as it fits perfectly with the event's theme: "Better city, better life."

He says the association is seeking local partners, such as architects and subcontractors, to prepare bids for the expo-related construction projects.

"Shanghai's authorities have said they want modern structures built with environmentally friendly and sustainable designs that will showcase Shanghai at its best. Wood can help Shanghai meet this need," Boardman says.

AF&PA has also made great effort to win bids to construct Olympics-related facilities, he says.

He admits the biggest challenge to promoting the concept is encouraging Chinese to use wood.

"Although China had used wood to build houses for several thousands of years, wood has been replaced by concrete and steel in the last 50 years. Lack of familiarity with the material is the biggest challenge to us," Boardman says.

He urges Chinese architects to use wood, as well as the combination of wood, concrete and steel, to make full use of the advantages of all materials.

"It is just like a painter only using red and yellow, but not blue. The painting cannot be pretty. The city should have a variety of buildings in order to create a harmonious atmosphere," he adds.

AF&PA has been working with the Ministry of Construction and various universities, such as Tsinghua University, to promote wooden frames to government officials and young architects.

The Ministry of Construction promulgated the Code of Standard on such framed buildings at the beginning of last year.

Buildings have been constructed with wood for more than 200 years in North America and Europe. According to AF&PA, more than 95 per cent of single-family houses in the United States are constructed with wood or a combination of wood, concrete and steel.

"Wood provides a nostalgic reminder of the history of our respective countries. In China, the world-famous Forbidden City, Summer Palace and Yu Garden were all built with wood. In the United States, the White House and many other famous buildings were originally constructed using wood," Boardman says.

AF&PA is the United States' national trade association for the solid wood and paper industries. It represents more than 200 member companies and trade associations.

AF&PA China has offices in Beijing and Shanghai.