Links to relevant environmental organizations

Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) - The Forest Stewardship Council is an international non-profit organization founded in 1993 to support environmentally appropriate, socially beneficial, and economically viable management of the world's forests. The Forest Stewardship Council's principal activities are the development of forest management and related standards, communications and education, and through a separate program, the accreditation and monitoring of certification bodies working to FSC standards.

Forest Stewardship Council (FSC US) - The FSC national office in the United States is backed by most major North American environmental organizations. FSC US sets standards for certification and promotes FSC in the U.S.

FSC US has a "Designing & Building with FSC" guide for architects & builders who want to learn how (& why) to include FSC products in their building projects. FSC holds an annual "Designing & Building with FSC Award" which highlights building projects that have used FSC products. See The Forest Stewardship Council :: Green Building

World Wildlife Fund - WWF works in more than 100 countries to conserve the diversity of life on earth. With nearly 1.2 million members in the U.S. and another 4 million worldwide, WWF is the world's largest privately financed conservation organization.

WWF also hosts the North American Forest & Trade Network of which Wood Floor Resource Group is a member company.

Rainforest Alliance - Rainforest Alliance protects ecosystems and the wildlife and people that depend on them by transforming land-use practices, business practices, and consumer behavior.

Rainforest Alliance created the Training Research Extension Education Systems (TREES) program to improve the effectiveness of forest certification in conserving biodiversity and in providing economic support to local communities. Sustainable Forestry: Training Research Extension Education Systems - Program Activities

Rainforest Alliance also maintains the SmartGuide to Green Building Wood Products which maps manufacturers and distributors to help purchasers locate the products they need from throughout the FSC certified supply and distribution chains.

Ecotrust/Ecotrust Canada – Ecotrust and Ecotrust Canada work to promote a conservation economy--an economy that improves social and environmental, as well economic, conditions--in the Pacific Northwest.

Metafore – Metafore serves as a catalyst for companies and organizations seeking to become more socially and environmentally responsible in their use of forest products. Metafore maintains a searchable database of certified forest products and a comparitive matrix of forest certification programs.

Natural Resources Defense Council - NRDC uses law, science, and the support of 1.2 million members to protect wildlife and wild places and to ensure a safe and healthy environment for all living things.

Forest Ethics - Forest Ethics aims to protect endangered forests by transforming the wood and paper industries in North America. Forest Ethics takes action against companies that it believes are linked to the destruction or degradation of endangered forests.

Rainforest Action Network - RAN takes action against multinational corporations whose policies and practices they believe endanger forests and their inhabitants.

US Green Building Council – The USGBC is a coalition of leaders from across the building industry working to promote buildings that are environmentally responsible, profitable, and healthy places to live and work. USGBC administers the LEED green building rating system.