Timber certification is not a new idea. Several bodies in the United States and around the world have advocated timber certification, and a few programs have been set up to protect forests through timber certification. Today, over 3.4 million acres of forest in the United States alone are being managed through sustainable timber certification programs. These forests are located all over the nation, in California, Georgia, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Hampshire, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Washington and Wisconsin. Two programs, in particular, are in place in the United States today: "SmartWood," sponsored by the Rainforest Alliance: SmartWood was the world's first and is now the world's largest certification program. The Rainforest Alliance and several other independent non-profit organizations established the SmartWood network in 1994. It facilitates research, policy, and implementation issues related to forest assessments and certification programs. To learn more about SmartWood, visit their site here. "Scientific Certification Systems" (SCS): This is a for-profit effort promoting certified forest products and other conservation causes. Their forest certification program page can be found here. The goal of this program is to identify and maintain sustainable forests. Their program is endorsed by the Forest Stewardship Council, and to date has certified more than 1.7 million acres of forest land worldwide. They also maintain listings of certified products manufacturers, retailers, and producers at their website. Timber Certification in Europe Several European nations are using the European Community laws and their own legal systems to regulate the production and importation of uncertified and unsustainable timber. Unfortunately, GATT and other free-trade policies are harming these efforts. GATT states that products shall not be discriminated against based solely on the manner in which they are produced. Thus, a GATT member nation is not allowed to put excessive tariffs on imported wood from non-sustainable sources simply because the source was non-certified. Hence, many European nations have been forced to reduce their mandatory certification guidelines to be voluntary efforts. GATT does not prohibit offering incentives to companies, nations, or product manufacturers that use environmentally friendly products. The European Community, within the last three years, has used this fact to implement successful incentive programs promoting timber and timber product certification. A systematic system of certification and regulation in Europe still seems a long way off. Intra-regional efforts to support sustainable timber production are more successful. An excellent description of the timber certification products currently underway in Europe (and other regions of the world) is available here. Certified Products Manufacturers and Suppliers Logically, certified timber and certified timber products will be of little help to the environment if people don't purchase them. Home Depot has already started to carry a successful line of certified timber products. Jay Leno's desk on the Tonight Show is made from certified timber. In order to support certified timber efforts, it would be worthwhile to investigate certified timber manufacturers from whom you can purchase wood and wood products. Several sites catalog manufacturers of products made from certified timber: Sites with Lists of Certified Timber Manufacturers, Resellers, and Retailers: Certified Wood Products Council Good Wood Forestworld.com

ADDRESSES

For more information, including lists of certified sources, contact the following: The Forest Stewardship Council, U.S. Initiative (the body that accredits independent certification programs) R.D. 1, Box 182, Waterbury, VT 05676. Tel: 802 244-6257 The SmartWood Program (a nonprofit timber certification program) Rainforest Alliance, 65 Bleecker Street, New York, NY 10012. Tel: (212) 677-1900 Contact: Todd Cater, Communications Coordinator. The Forest Products Buyers Group (a U.S.-based buyers group for certified products) 20 Exchange Place, 32nd Floor, New York, NY 10005. Tel: (212) 482-0671 Ecotimber International (a California-based certified timber merchant) 1020 Heinz Avenue, Berkeley, CA 94710. Tel: (510) 549-3000 Contact: Aaron Maizlish, President Special thanks to the Rainforest Alliance for compiling these addresses. If you're interested in getting involved in supporting timber certification programs, you can write to the following people: The Honorable Bruce Babbitt, Secretary of the Interior c/o U.S. Department of the Interior 1849 C Street, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20240 George Lennon, Director, United States Forest Service USDA Forest Service Attn: Director George Lennon PO Box 96090 Washington, DC 20090-6090 Regional efforts have also been effective in creating certified timber programs. You might also want to write your Senators or Congresspeople to support legislation mandating or advocating certified timber