Natural Forest Distribution Resources
Certification
The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) — An international organization that brings people together to find solutions which promote responsible stewardship of the world’s forests.
The Forest Stewardship Council United States — Created to change the dialogue about and the practice of sustainable forestry worldwide. This impressive goal has in many ways been achieved, yet there is more work to be done. FSC sets forth principles, criteria, and standards that span economic, social, and environmental concerns. The FSC standards represent the world’s strongest system for guiding forest management toward sustainable outcomes. Like the forestry profession itself, the FSC system includes stakeholders with a diverse array of perspectives on what represents a well-managed and sustainable forest. While the discussion continues, the FSC standards for forest management have now been applied in over 57 countries around the world.
In 1995, FSC-US, located in Washington, D.C., was established as the national “chapter” of FSC. It’s purpose is to coordinate the development of forest management standards throughout the different biogeographic regions of the U.S., to provide public information about certification and FSC, and to work with certification organizations to promote FSC certification in the U.S.FSC-US has a national presence through the work of its Board of Directors, members, staff, and regional standards coordinators.
Rainforest Alliance SmartWood Program — Through our SmartWood program, we offer independent auditing, certification and promotion of FSC-certified forest products to improve forest management by providing economic incentives to businesses that practice responsible forestry. With offices and partner organizations around the world, we are able to offer on-the-ground certification services globally.
Northwest Natural Resource Group– NNRG is a conservation and rural economic- development organization that has developed a new economic model for small-forest landowners that is driven by conservation markets. Natural Forest Distribution works closely with NNRG to create new supply channels that enable more small landowners to benefit from the expanding FSC market. NNRG also holds regular tours of FSC forestlands and manufacturing facilities for green-building and procurement professionals in the Pacific Northwest.
Green Building
The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) — A nonprofit composed of leaders from every sector of the building industry working to promote buildings that are environmentally responsible, profitable and healthy places to live and work. Our more than 11,000 member organizations and our network of 75 regional chapters are united to advance our mission of transforming the building industry to sustainability.
Core Purpose
The U.S. Green Building Council's core purpose is to transform the way buildings and communities are designed, built and operated, enabling an environmentally and socially responsible, healthy, and prosperous environment that improves the quality of life.
Guiding Principles
At USGBC, we take how we make our decisions as seriously as the decisions themselves. Our Board of Directors has articulated a set of guiding principles to provide clarity and continuity in our decision making.
The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System™ — The nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction, and operation of high performance green buildings. LEED gives building owners and operators the tools they need to have an immediate and measurable impact on their buildings’ performance. LEED promotes a whole-building approach to sustainability by recognizing performance in five key areas of human and environmental health: sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection, and indoor environmental quality.
Find out how to gain:
Possible Credits for FSC Wood Usage USGBC's LEED for Homes Pilot Program
Build It Green — Their vision is a world where people thrive in buildings and communities sustained by a healthy connection between the natural and built environment.
Build It Green is a professional non-profit membership organization whose mission is to promote healthy, energy and resource-efficient buildings in California. Supported by a solid foundation of outreach and education, Build It Green connects consumers and building professionals with the tools and technical expertise they need to build quality green buildings.
Build It Green fosters collaboration with key stakeholder groups to accelerate the adoption of green building practices, policies, and programs.
Earth Advantage — Has transformed itself over the past decade from a utility-based energy conservation focus to a fully encompassed sustainability program. We are now a free standing nonprofit organization acting as the Northwest's premier green building program.
We work with builders and developers to bring the most energy efficient, sustainable and healthy homes to the market. We participate with other nonprofits, organizations and associations to bring forth the message of conservation and sustainability.
Built Green — An environmentally-friendly, non-profit, residential building program of the Master Builders Association of King and Snohomish Counties, developed in partnership with King County, Snohomish County and other agencies in Washington State. This website provides consumers with easy-to-understand rating systems, which quantify environmentally friendly building practices for remodeling and new home construction, communities and multifamily development units. We hope you will consider buying or remodeling according to Built Green standards, becoming a member of Built Green, or sponsoring our program.
Environmental
American Lands — Programs are designed to protect and restore functioning ecosystems and address the underlying threats to them. Our programs rely on science-based solutions. Economists have demonstrated that the "earth services" provided by natural systems, including clean water, clean air and climate stabilization, often far exceed the value of commodity extraction. Yet, wildlands are being altered and developed at an alarming rate. All living things – humans, plants and animals – need these natural systems for survival and quality of life.
The Nature Conservancy — the leading conservation organization working around the world to protect ecologically important lands and waters for nature and people
The Natural Resources Defense Council — The purpose of the NRDC is to safeguard the Earth: its people, its plants and animals and the natural systems on which all life depends.
NRDC Building Green — The market for high-performance homes and workplaces is soaring. Explore this website to find out how building green can boost your bottom line. Get tips for streamlining design and construction. Learn which strategies deliver the biggest paybacks. And discover ways to get your project noticed
The Sierra Club — Members and supporters are more than 1.3 million of your friends and neighbors. Inspired by nature, we work together to protect our communities and the planet. The Club is America's oldest, largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization.
World Wildlife Fund — The WWF has long known that our entire planet is one delicate and complex set of relationships between species, people, habitats, governments and global market forces. We also know that meaningful conservation cannot take place without focusing on all of them.
Through rigorous scientific and economic analysis, we have integrated our deep knowledge of conservation with an understanding of the global market forces that influence and challenge our natural world. WWF is transforming the most significant forces that threaten people and nature.
The Rainforest Alliance works to conserve biodiversity and ensure sustainable livelihoods by transforming land-use practices, business practices and consumer behavior.
Consulting
Practica Consulting — We are nationally-recognized, experienced, green building consultants specializing in transforming regional marketplaces to value and implement green building.
What's Working Inc. — A pioneering company that is transforming the planning, design and construction marketplace. Our seasoned team does this by assisting developers, builders, architects, public agencies, planners and non-profits incorporate green building methods, materials and technologies into workplaces, homes and communities.
Stocking Dealers
Mead Clark Lumber — Santa Rosa, CA
Beronio Lumber — San Francisco, CA
Crenshaw Lumber —Los Angeles, CA
Environmental Home Center — Seattle, WA
Ashby Lumber — Berkeley and Concord, CA