Sustainable Forests

Now, more than ever, sustainable forests are an important part of our modern world. As populations grow, and individuals and communities require access to resources, sustainable forests play an important role in maintaining healthy societies.

Sustainable forests provide clean water, fresh air, and habitat for plants and animals. Sustainable forests also provide medicine, natural resources, and employment opportunities for nearby communities. It is important to protect forests from illegal and destructive harvesting; maintaining a healthy planet depends on the protection of forestlands around the world.

In the 1990s growing environmental concern for sustainable forests, as well as demand for more socially responsible businesses, led to the emergence of third-party forest certification standards. These standards developed specific tools for measuring and communicating the environmental and social performance of forest operations. These changes in the marketplace have led to an increasing awareness by consumers of the importance of sustainable forests and their impact on the planet.

One of the primary certification standards to emerge was the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC®). Founded in 1993, FSC is an independent, non-governmental, not-for-profit organization established to promote the responsible management of the world’s forests. Major environmental groups around the world support FSC.

Mendocino® redwood and Douglas-fir lumber products, including decking, fencing, landscaping and dimensional lumber, are available certified to the standards of the FSC. Mendocino Redwood Company (MRC) supplies the logs used to manufacture the top-quality Mendocino brand of redwood lumber. MRC forestlands have been certified to the standards of the FSC since 2000. This tradition of stewardship and sustainable forests means the Mendocino brand of redwood lumber is a responsible choice for outdoor living projects.

For additional information regarding the FSC, please visit our FSC Certification page. You may also want to visit FSC’s international website for additional information.