Wood products can be certified by non-profit third party organizations to demonstrate that they have been harvested in a sustainable manner from responsibly managed forest areas.  This certification label communicates to prospective consumers that the wood has been taken from a forest managed in accordance with stringent environmental and social standards.  The use of certified wood in building ventures has increased as the concept of building green has gained popularity. 

There are several organizations focused on the certification of wood products, including the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), the Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI), and the American Tree Farm System (ATFS).  The Canadian Standards Association (CSA), an organization that develops stardards for a wide variety of products,  also certifies wood products based on their Sustainable Forest Management Standard.  To date the FSC is the only wood certification that is currently recognized by the LEED rating system.  While specific criteria for certification may differ among these certification boards, there are several elements common to all of them.  In order to be certified by any of these organizations, a forest:

• must not violate previously existing land rights, including aboriginal rights; 
• must enable public participation and use of the land;  
• should be managed under a management plan which incorporates the maintenance of forest biological diversity and productivity, the conservation of resources, and social and economic benefits to society; and
• should have a management plan that will continually improve based on new knowledge. 

The FSC Canada divides its forest standards into four separate categories appropriate for Canada's varied landscape: the National Boreal Standard, the Maritimes Standard, the British Columbia Standard, and the Great Lakes/St. Lawrence Standard. 

Links to other certification standards and case studies featuring smallholders (managers and/or owners of small forests) who have pursued FSC certification are listed on the right.