Many people like me would probably prefer to buy a wood based product, furniture, if it had an Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) label attached to it. This label is used to promote use of timber from socially and environmental beneficial forestry operations. However, that label may not be worth it.
The verification of forests is voluntary, it is done in primary forests not commercially grown ones, local communities and the environment can be ignored. How? The FSC uses 3rd party firms to certify forests. These 3rd party firms are paid by the forestry/logging companies directly. The certification is, therefore, not independent after all. It is not about protecting forests or the people who live in them. It is, and has been for some time, misleading.
If you want to know more I suggest you go to FSC-Watch (fsc-watch.org) and REDD-monitor (reds-monitor.org)
