Green growth, green harvest

Sustainable timber harvest finds a place in the market
[California] Twenty years ago the term “green lumber” meant newly cut timber, fresh with sap. That meaning is changing as forest managers look for new ways to sustainably manage their ecosystems, balancing profit motives with environmental and social benefits. The leading accreditor of green lumber certification is the Forest Stewardship Council, an international organization founded in 1993 that certifies third-party auditors who grant the certification. Though consumer demand in the United States has not been a significant factor in driving the certification, Europe and the budding green-building movement is spurring demand worldwide. Also, certain retailers including Home Depot, Lowe’s and Kinkos demand certified lumber products, and this move by big business is predicted to increase with consumer awareness.

News notes are courtesy of Southern Forests Network News Notes
www.southernsustainableforests.org