[Oregon] Owners of some timberlands surrounding the Portland area have done their best to go green… But until this year, most of those timber owners …lacked an outlet to consumers willing to spend more for wood harvested under strict environmental standards. The struggle to build a connection between supply and demand for environmental lumber is emblematic of the obstacles facing the green building industry. The FSC-certified lumber market has had a boost from national and regional green building programs… The transformation of trees from eco-friendly forests into eco-friendly home improvement products requires extensive tracking and participation from every element of the lumber supply chain to meet the stewardship council standards. Timberland owners, sawmills, lumberyards and builder-developers must all be involved. Closing gaps in the system is the key to making it all work.

News notes are courtesy of Southern Forests Network News Notes
www.southernsustainableforests.org