Waste not, what not is what I say. People used to cherish their hardwood and pine forests. Frugality was a virtue. Now we celebrate decadence, comfort, and greed.
No ... it's not an oxymoron.
1 - The farmers and drug lords (mainly in South America) are burning down forests that are not theirs ... in order to expand their crops (usually drugs). Since the forests are not theirs, it is not on private lands.
2 - Forests are not limited. They can be replanted. And old growth? It is less effective at "scrubbing" than young growth.
And recycled paper doesn't need virgin stock.
Virgin stock is used because consumers want a finer grade paper than purely recycled can achieve, at this time.
According to all the reports I have heard, we (in the US) are growing more forests than we harvest.
btw - you know who first burned down forests in North America to make way for "ranching"?
The natives. Yep. There used to be large forests on the "Great Plains", until the natives burned them down so the buffalo would have more grazing area.