Certification has become an important trend in sound forestry management, as it balances resource sustainability with economic viability. Today, 40% of the world's certified forests are located in the North America. However, a number of groups are pressuring corporations (sometimes even threatening boycotts) to purchase wood and paper products that meet an international certification standard established by the Forestry Stewardship Council (FSC). In essence, these groups are seeking to make FSC the only recognized standard in the US. Because most of the world's FSC-certified land is not in the US, an FSC-only approach would exclude the vast majority of certified US timber to the advantage of competing foreign timber. This study addresses whether the US would be well served by exclusive reliance on this sole international standard.

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