WhatTheyThink's Going Green has joined forces with Two Sides to help address the "perceptions" that paper destroys forests, that electronic media are "greener" than print and paper, and that recycling is the solution to all environmental ills.
We hear a lot about forest certification programs, and although they are expanding, a
recent look at forest certification by consultant Kathy Abusnow points out that, “forest management certifications in both Canada and the U.S. account for approximately 10% of the managed forest area.”
Why should you care?
The author says: “One need not be dismayed by the small amount of certified wood available because, even though certification provides an added assurance of responsible forest management through a third party audit, the vast majority of wood products produced in North America do come from well-managed forests. The incorporation of new knowledge, science, technology and legislation has been improving forest sustainability, and now certification is added to that mix to give the added proof that forests are well managed.” Being the “trust but verify” type, I am happy to see that certification programs are adding a few more million hectares of forest yearly. And there are more than 50 certification agencies worldwide which may seem like overkill, but there is the belief that this “market competition” will being down certification costs. We shall see.
For more Two Sides facts see www.twosides.us/mythsandfacts.