Understanding what makes mass timber sustainable from a wood sourcing perspective can be a significant challenge. In North America, wood is sourced from a variety of forest types: public (federally, state, or locally owned), and private (commercial or non-commercial). Forest management practices across landowners varies significantly. While it is important to note that many forestland owners practice sustainable forestry without it, third-party certification provides one way to evaluate and understand sustainability. In the United States the two main third-party wood and forest products certification programs are Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) and Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI). Although these certifications do not cover all forests on which sustainable management is practiced, they are helpful where standards and assurances are desired by a client or required by building certifications like LEED or Living Building Challenge. Follow the links below to visit FSC’s and SFI’s websites to learn more.