Solutions to Deforestation

To Log or Not to Log?

Not to Log
The integrity of our national forests is gravely threatened under the mismanagement of the U.S. Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management. We are calling for an immediate moratorium on commercial timber sales and road construction on federal forests that are under the administration of these agencies. This moratorium should remain in effect until our government has thoroughly investigated the mismanagement of our forests and a transparent multi-stakeholder process determines the exact size and location for new federally controlled protected areas. In addition, we are calling on governments to adopt concrete measures to bring an immediate end to illegal logging and trade in illegally logged products. As consumers of wood products, governments, businesses and individuals must adopt policies and practices that will reduce the consumption of wood and paper products and increase the use of recycled materials.

To Log: Forest Stewardship Council
The wood products we do use should come from forests that have been managed in an ecologically and socially responsible manner. The best means for determining whether wood products come from such forests is to look for the FSC label. FSC, the Forest Stewardship Council, is an international non-profit association that issues certificates for well-managed forests.

Greenpeace is a founding member of the FSC and is active in its development at the international, national and regional levels. For more information, including resources on where to find FSC products, visit www.fscus.org.

Why FSC?

Sustainable Logging
The forest management standards set by the FSC include ensuring that the ecosystem of the forest is not damaged and only low volumes of trees are extracted. The impacts of logging on the plant and animal life in the forest must be minimal.

Impact on Indigenous Peoples
FSC is also the only certifying body that takes into consideration the impact of logging operations on indigenous populations that use these forests. Many of the most endangered forests around the world are also the homes of indigenous peoples who often use and depend on the forest resources for their livelihoods.

Chain of Custody
Landowners and companies that sell timber or forest products seek certification as a way to verify to consumers that they have practiced forestry consistent with FSC standards. Independent certification organizations are accredited by FSC to carry out assessments of forest management to determine if standards have been met. These certifiers also verify that companies claiming to sell FSC certified products have tracked their supply back to FSC certified sources. This chain of custody certification assures that consumers can trust the FSC label.

Beware of Competing Schemes
The FSC label is a label consumers can trust. Other certifying bodies, such as the Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI), are the attempts of special-interest groups to greenwash the public. SFI, for example, is a marketing scheme developed by the American Forest & Paper Association - the most powerful timber trade association in the world. For more information, visit www.dontbuysfi.com.