December 2009
Seasons Greetings! In the December newsletter you will find out out where the User Group has been recently to create awareness and support for the CSA Standard and why it's such a great fit for public forest management in Canada. There is also information on the Chairman's Award, given to deserving public advisory groups that are active in CSA certification. And you will find out about the assistance that woodlot owners in Nova Scotia are receiving when they subscribe to the CSA Standard for Woodlots.
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November 2009
Want to know more about PEFC Canada and product labeling and logo use? How about the CSA Sustainable Forest Management Standard for Woodlots? Details in our November newsletter.
Welcome to our inaugural newsletter! Inside you can read about the fresh new look to the website and other materials. And if you are looking for an opportunity to to speak to us in person, check out the trade shows where we will be in attendance.
The CSA SFM User Group expresses it's disappointment with the US Green Building Council's third draft benchmark currently out for public comment. “This is not a model for the accountability and transparency the USGBC is demanding of others” noted John Dunford, chair of the CSA SFM User Group.
The USGBC has now restricted comments to just 5 of the 80 benchmark criteria, without any rationale for why the other 75 benchmarks did not change and why the associated comments from the second round of public comments were dismissed. Many organizations, including the CSA SFM User group were strongly opposed to this second set of benchmarks, which take a very narrow and exclusive approach to credible certifiication programs such as CSA. Our March 5, 2010 news release (also on this page) has more.
Buildings contribute almost 40 percent of the total CO2 emissions in the United States. And life-cycle assessment studies reveal that CO2 emissions for wood-based buildings are substantially lower than emissions associated with comparable steel- or concrete based buildings. A LEED rating system that takes an inclusive approach to the use of wood sourced from credible certification systems would see the benefits of promoting sustainable forest management globally and postively contributing to climate change.
The PEFC Council has expressed their concerns with the draft USGBC benchmark for forest certification [READ MORE]
BC's Forestry Innovation Investment's website has additional information on the LEED standard and why the USGBC needs to fairly recognize wood in it's benchmarks. The website also has a comment form that can be used to voice your concerns to the USGBC.
Improvements to CSA’s Sustainable Forest Management (SFM) Standard occurred earlier this year as part of a 5-year review cycle that keeps the standard current and relevant. Now organizations certified to the standard are providing fresh new information about it’s use on an updated website.
PEFC General Assembly Newsletter (November 2009)
As the predominant green building standard in North America, the US Green Building Council had the opportunity in their current LEED revision process to truly impact sustainability by promoting forest certification to all the respected standards in North America.
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