Lowe’s to Stop Buying Endangered-Forest Wood

Lowe’s Cos., the No. 2 U.S. home-improvement retailer, said it will stop buying wood products from endangered forests, following the example last year of rival Home Depot Inc. Lowe’s will stop buying wood immediately from Canada’s Great Bear Rainforest in British Columbia and phase out purchases of other wood from endangered forests. It didn’t say when it would stop its sales of endangered wood. Atlanta-based Home Depot said a year ago it would stop selling products made with wood from threatened tree species, such as cedar, redwood and lauan, from certain regions by 2003. The move came after urging from environmental-protection groups. Wilkesboro, N.C.-based Lowe’s operates 600 stores in 39 states. Its shares closed up 75 cents at $45.75 on the NYSE.