Forests Are
Threatened Worldwide
Concern over the loss and destruction of the world’s
forests has taken many forms in the last few decades. From
the debates of owl and logger in the Pacific Northwest of
the United States to the highly publicized loss of tropical
rainforests around the globe, forests have become an issue
central to environmental agendas. The facts reveal that
the great concern is warranted. The Rainforest Alliance
reports that “the world’s forest area has now
shrunk to 8.6 billion acres as a consequence of human exploitation
– most of which occurred in the last 50 years.”(1)
The use of unsustainable practices of consumption of wood
and wood products affects more than just forests. Unsustainable
consumption has led to a decrease in biodiversity, diminished
the quality of watersheds, and eliminated animal habitat.
Wood Alternatives
Practices and products that minimize the amount of wood
and wood products used are obvious solutions to reduce the
loss of forest land. Practices that reduce the amount of
wood used include using wood more sparingly, reusing wood
salvaged from old structures, and recycling wood to be used
in other products. The same actions can be utilized for
paper and other wood products. However, due to improving
technology it is possible for other materials to be viable
and affordable alternatives to using wood. Some of these
wood alternatives include using waste resources (such as
tires, bottles, and cans), composite and engineered wood
products, recycled plastic lumber, and non-wood fibers.
Increasingly, companies are adopting initiatives incorporating
the above mentioned principles into their corporate policies.
The list of companies adopting forest-friendly policies
includes National Geographic Society, Patagonia and many
Fortune 500 companies. To view the list in its entirety
and for more information on wood alternatives visit ForestEthics.
Consumers Can Take Responsibility
Consumers and purchasers can have an impact on forest use
through their purchasing power. To reduce the demand for
lumber, consumers can purchase wood alternatives or use
recycled wood. If these are not feasible, consumers can
impact logging practices by choosing sustainably harvested
timber. If consumers make it clear that they care about
logging practices, forest owners and managers can gain a
market advantage or price premiums if they are able to establish
that they manage their land in a responsible fashion. Preference
for industry and trade certified products can have an effect
on their marketing strategies. It can be difficult to ascertain
the origin of wood and wood products, however multiple certification
schemes have been implemented so consumers have an easier
time purchasing wood products that are “good.”
Certification Schemes
Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)
One certification scheme comes from the Forest
Stewardship Council (FSC). The FSC has made it easier
to purchase wood and wood-related products that were grown
and produced in an environmentally and socially responsible
manner. The FSC strives to certify wood and other wood products
from forests that are, “environmentally appropriate,
socially viable, and economically viably managed.”(2)
Other components of the FSC certification scheme include
a limitation on the size of clear-cut forest land, detailed
assessments of the landowners, and third-party auditing
for verification. The FSC is especially applicable to the
certification of tropical hardwoods that traditionally come
from developing countries.
Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI)
Another certification scheme is the Sustainable
Forestry Initiative (SFI) which was developed by the
American Forest & Paper Association (AFPA). The SFI
strives to certify wood and wood products that have been
managed in a responsible manner. Representatives on the
board include members of the paper industry, along with
representatives from the environmental field including the
President and CEO of the Nature Conservancy. SFI incorporates
best management practices (BMPs) and independent third-party
audits. The SFI is best applied to timber traditionally
found in European and United States forests.
Other Certification Schemes
Other certification schemes include PEFC
and CSA
standards. Due to the number of certifications available,
it is important to recognize that each standard has its
unique qualities and attributes. When consumers and other
individuals are looking into purchasing wood and other products,
a through comparison is warranted. When constructing policies
regarding the fiscal purchasing power of state governments
the recognition of different certification schemes is recommended,
due to the number and differing principals each cover. Several
articles and reports have been done comparing the various
certifications, including the following:
Legislation
Model Legislation
The Consumer’s
Choice Council has assembled a guidebook
that provides information on how cities and states can save
forests through their purchasing power. Minimally, policies
should address:
- Environmentally Preferable Materials Purchasing Options
(alternatives to wood)
- Pulp & Paper Purchasing Options
- Building Material Purchasing Options
The CCC has also assembled pertinent information into a
model
bill (Appendix 2, p. 16).
Currently there are laws in place that encourage purchasing
policies that give preferential treatment to environmentally
and socially responsible wood. Here are some of the laws
already in place:
- San Francisco Administrative Council Code Chapter 121
- Santa Monica Municipal Code Section 2.28
- Hartford County, MD County Code Section 41-19
- Arizona Revised Statutes Title 34 Section 201J
- New York Consolidated Laws Article 11 Section 165
- Tennessee Code Ann. Section 4-3-1112
Click here
for a complete list of the laws.
New York City Council Speaker introduced Int.
No. 108 on April 10, 2002 seeking to amend the administrative
code relating to the city’s contracts purchasing wood
products and other materials. The legislation seeks to mandate
the purchase of wood alternatives and if wood is determined
to be the only viable purchase option it needs to be certified
as coming from a socially responsible forest.
Current State Legislation
New York
SB
2094 and HB
5488 - These bills seek to establish a certified wood
procurement pilot project, define “certified wood,”
and dependent upon the results for the pilot wood procurement
project, establish a pilot project for certified paper procurement.
The State Environmental Resource Center
would like to thank the Consumer’s Choice Council
for the handbook, “How
to Save Forests Through Environmentally and Socially Responsible
Procurement: A Handbook for Activists.” |
