Wood from responsibly-managed forests, like those certified to the Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI), is an excellent choice for new construction or renovation. It’s renewable, durable and aesthetically pleasing, making it a popular choice for builders. However, a major roadblock stands in the way of using North American wood to its fullest green building potential. The widely-used LEED green building rating system only credits wood certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), a global program with operations not just in North America but also in China, Russia, Europe, South America and Indonesia to name a few, effectively limiting the amount of North American wood that can earn points in LEED-certified green building projects in the U.S. and Canada.

More than three-quarters of North American certified forests are certified to credible standards not currently recognized by the USGBC, including SFI, American Tree Farm System (ATFS) and Canadian Standards Association (CSA). Forest products from our own backyard should be given equal access for wood credit, and SFI is committed to opening the LEED green building rating system to all credible certification programs. We aren’t the only ones who feel this way.

10 U.S. Governors, as well as other government officials, have written letters in support of opening LEED. Professional societies and government agencies including the National Association of State Foresters, the Canadian Council of Forest Ministers and the Society of American Foresters have released statements urging the USGBC to change its policy.

Additionally, our petition asking the USGBC for an inclusive LEED policy demonstrates what we already suspected—there’s a broad base of supporters who are deeply committed and passionate about responsible forest management, green building and the communities that depend on these forests. Nearly 6,000 people around the globe have signed so far.

The USGBC is currently in review of the forest certification credit, and the process has not been short or uncomplicated. In the end, we hope the organization gets past its outdated process and the politics around the LEED forest certification policy. Inclusivity is the answer. It’s what other green building programs and codes globally already have applied. Multiple forest certification programs push one other to do better, and they serve different needs.

The USGBC needs to focus on the facts and create a program that recognizes the value of wood as a green building material and all the benefits credible forest certification programs bring. One LEED point should be given for use of wood products, and an additional credit should be awarded for using credible third-party certified forest products.

For the sake of our forests, our communities, the tens of thousands of family foresters who make their livelihoods from forestry and the future of green building across North America and globally, it is time for USGBC to do the right thing and recognize all credible forest certification standards: SFI, ATFS, CSA, FSC and PEFC.

Show support for increased certification by signing our petition and pass along our green building video to colleagues, friends and family. If you’re a voting member of USGBC, vote against the current benchmarks. Ask the USGBC to accept all credible forest certification standards. Do what’s best for our forests here in North America and globally.

The views expressed on this Blog are those of the individual author, and not to be attributed to ED+C or BNP Media.