Spokespersons for the Green Building Initiative (GBI) issued the following statement regarding the announcement that the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) has debuted an opportunity for users of the LEED rating system to earn credit for use of wood products certified under multiple recognized forest certification standards.
“Recognizing all major forest certification standards promotes responsible forestry,” stated GBI board member Dr. Charles Kibert, professor at University of Florida and director of its Powell Center for Construction and the Environment. “This decision is consistent with the results of multiple ANSI-approved consensus standards. Opening the door to multiple forest certification standards is a positive move by the USGBC.”