May 28 2010
Today, Perkins+Will, a global leader in sustainable architecture and design, released updated comments regarding the proposed 3rd certified wood credit benchmark issued by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC).
The Perkins+Will “FSC Equal + Better” stance establishes performance indicators the firm considers equivalent to the Forest Stewardship Council criteria (FSC) and they have added options for carbon accounting, tightening the criteria on ecologically warranted clear cuts and addressing non-forest ecosystem conversions.
Through its “FSC Equal + Better” stance, Perkins+Will provides detailed comments on the USGBC’s benchmark that threatens to reverse important forest stewardship advancements made globally by FSC over the past 17 years. Specifically, it proposes several key changes and solutions to the USGBC benchmark in the following areas:
- Certification Body Governance
- Rights of local and indigenous people
- Clear cutting
- Illegal logging
- Pesticides, herbicides and pre-cautionary substances
- Genetically modified organisms
“We developed ‘FSC Equal + Better’ to promote regenerative forestry practices and encourage the market to move forward, while providing possible solutions for the USGBC,” said Doug Pierce, a senior associate, AIA, LEED AP™ and author of the firm’s stance and specific comments. “As a firm we’re looking beyond sustainability at regenerative design. To make that a reality our architects and designers need products that truly meet the triple bottom-line of ecological integrity, economic vitality and social balance. This isn’t about labels or brands, it’s about real, on-the-ground performance and going backwards is simply not an option.”
Perkins+Will’s “FSC Equal + Better” also outlines the need for provisions that go beyond any current wood standard label to ensure the promotion of regenerative forestry. This includes calculating net carbon uptake in forest management, restoring lost old-growth forests, limiting the conversion of any natural eco-system to forest or other non-forest uses, converting plantation back to natural forest after harvest and limiting ecological warranted clear cuts to 20 acres without scientific rationale.
Source: http://www.perkinswill.com/