Don; it is also true that rosewood essential oil is now produced in greater quantities for the aromatherapy industry, and has put this tree into endangered status. Its use in musical instruments and decorative furniture may be a thing of the past very soon. The same is true of sandalwood which has always been used in perfumery but moreso now (these trees must be at least 30 years old before they are suitable for harvest); it is normally pricey and has doubled in price in the last two years (about thirty dollars for a half ounce bottle).

You have also hit upon a very important issue which is that in many areas the biodiversity and indeed biological structure of a given area is dependent upon the nutrients of older trees (the fungi, parasitic plants and groundcover plants all exist in tandem with these older trees' cycle of growth and decay). So, take away those big trees and you effectively destroy the habitat left behind. Big implications for all who depend upon it, be they botanical, animal or human.

See the big picture folks!!! Logging jobs today, smog-choked desert tomorrow.