US timber company Weyerhaeuser has pledged US$250,000 worth of building materials to help with the Haiti rebuilding effort.

The company has also committed to providing technical assistance to help explore opportunities for building earthquake-proof buildings in the country. It is currently in the process of identifying a partner in the rebuilding effort.

Weyerhaeuser will immediately donate materials to help with temporary housing. But it also sees its iLevel Shear Brace product, which is designed to help buildings resist lateral forces created by high wind and earthquakes, as having potential in the long-term reconstruction.

“As this devastating tragedy has shown, Haiti must not only be rebuilt, but it must also be rebuilt safely to prevent future tragedies of this type,” said president and chief executive officer Dan Fulton..

“As a leader in the building materials industry, we can do our part to help achieve a safer Haiti as it recovers from this earthquake.”