According to the World Resources Institute, an area of tropical forest nearly four times the size of Switzerland is being destroyed each year. These forests not only support 50 to 90 percent of all living species; they also serve as carbon sinks, sequestering tons of greenhouse gases from the atmosphere.

Commercial logging is one of the

largest threats to forests today. But sustainable forestry practices can limit destruction and ensure that forests remain a healthy, renewing resource.

When buying new wood, whether you're installing floors, building a deck, choosing furniture or even buying paper, stick to wood products that carry the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) logo to show that they came from a certified forest where logging is managed responsibly.

Leading green building organizations like the United States Green Building Council (which runs the LEED rating program) as well as major environment-focused organizations like Co-op America support international third-party certifier FSC as the best guarantor of sustainable forest practices.

"As a policy, the Cascadia Region Green Building Council only supports FSC in the marketplace," says Jason F. McLennan, CEO of the Cascadia Region GBC. "Based on our professional review, only FSC is rigorous enough to warrant our endorsement."

FSC's governing body is separated into three chambers: environmental, economic and social, and all weigh equally in the evaluating process. Certification implies not only responsible environmental management, but also fair treatment of workers and the surrounding community, including indigenous peoples.

FSC has more than 50 standards worldwide, which are set locally according to local conditions. For example, there are different standards for flat Sweden than for the Cascades' steep mountain slopes.

Learn more about FSC on their website. Find FSC-certified products locally at Ecohaus, Dunn Lumber, and The Home Depot. Search for more FSC-certified products with the Forest Certification Resource Center. Learn more about the issue from Buyer Be Fair, a recent documentary about FSC from Seattle producer John de Graaf.