A new executive order signed by Gov. Nathan Deal in Georgia will ensure that the region’s forests are certified as ‘green’ in a move that has been praised by FRA.

Bainbridge Island, WA, August 23, 2012 – A new executive order signed by Gov. Nathan Deal in Georgia will ensure that the region’s forests are certified as ‘green’ in a move that has been praised by Forestry Research Associates (FRA).

The signing of the order is also intended to help the region boost the number of new buildings that are awarded LEED green building certification. The move will expand the definition of sustainable timber to include timber form forests certified under the American tree Farm System and the Sustainable Forestry Initiative. Until now, only buildings made from timber certified by the Forest Stewardship Council could be eligible for LEED green building certification under the US Green Building Council.

As well as being supported by FRA, which advocates sustainable forestry in all its forms, the move has also won praise from the Georgia Forestry Association. The Association’s president, Steve McWilliams, said, “The governor has taken what I think is quite a stand for thousands of private timberland owners in the state by saying that we’re not going to let our wood be devalued by a policy wherein the end result of the quality of the product that goes into the building is substantially the same.”

FRA agrees that timber from forestry that has been managed sustainably should always be used as a preference to timber that has been sourced from non-sustainable sources. It also agrees that sustainability should not just be limited to FSC certification and that green building policies should be opened up to allow for other accreditation systems, such as those held by many of Georgia’s forests.

“Sustainability should not just mean ‘FSC-accredited’”, stated FRA’s analysis partner, Peter Collins. He added, “Any timber from forestry that is managed sustainable, through managed plantations such as those operated by Greenwood Management in Brazil and Canada, for example, should be usable in green construction projects.

Contact:
Peter Collins
Forestry Research Associates
620 Vineyard Lane
Bainbridge Island, WA 98110
(206) 316 8394
info@forestry-research.com
http://www.forestry-research.com