At Urban Evolutions, our deep Midwest roots inspire our unwavering commitment to responsible wood sourcing. Nestled in a region renowned for its diverse forests, we've made it our mission to showcase the beauty of Midwest hardwoods while preserving our forest health. As a complement to our salvaged wood supply, we've cultivated relationships with Midwest lumber suppliers who lead through responsible forestry.
Midwestern Oak Savannas
A Midwestern Oak Savanna is a unique habitat, characterized by a mix of sun and shade and incredibly diverse vegetation and animal species. Once covering 50 million acres, these habitats have dwindled to just 30,000 acres today. Most of the savannas in Wisconsin have succumbed to development and invasive species damage so quickly over the past fifty years that they have become one of the most endangered ecosystems on the planet.
Daylighting the Oaks
As wood products manufacturers, we see a responsibility to restore and protect these native ecosystems for future generations. We partner with local producers who restore these ecosystems in their native Southern Wisconsin, removing invasive species and thinning overgrown tree stands to allow sunlight to reach the forest floor. This process is known as “daylighting the oaks”. During restoration, damaged, diseased, or stunted oak trees are removed from these habitats, allowing the remaining trees to grow robustly and receive ample sunlight.
We are proud to source Wisconsin White Oak from small, responsible forestry operations that actively restore native habitats in our home state.
Get Inspired
Explore the rich color and character of our Midwest-sourced White Oak Flooring.
