Independent forest certification systems help give consumers confidence that the wood they use comes from sustainable, well-managed forests. The focus of these programs is on sustainability and conservation. Certification programs require water, air, soil and wildlife habitat resources be conserved and sites to be replanted with native species.

The two largest independent, sustainable forestry programs are the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) and the Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI). Both require private forestland owners to have harvest plans and management operations audited and both set standards relating to the licensing and training of forest managers as well as broad standards for forest resource conservation.

California forestry regulations also set high standards for sustainability and resource conservation, laws considered the most stringent in the world. In fact, a study by California Polytechnic University – San Luis Obispo found that California’s forestry regulations are as strict or stricter than the standards set by FSC and SFI.

Roughly 90 percent of product-producing redwood forests are certified sustainable under FSC or SFI, and all redwood products come from California. When you choose redwood, you’re choosing natural wood from sustainable forests.

Information courtesy of www.calredwood.org