Introducing the Canadian Eco-Lumber Co-op
West Coast Environmental Law is a proud supporter of the new Canadian Eco-Lumber Co-op, a joint initiative between producers of eco-certified wood products, and organizations like West Coast who advocate ecologically and socially responsible forest use. West Coast staff lawyer Jessica Clogg chairs the Canadian Eco-Lumber Co-op board.
The Canadian Eco-Lumber Co-op markets and sells only products that are independently eco-certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), or reclaimed from buildings slated for demolition. The Co-op brings woodlot managers, community forest holders, small-scale sawmills, furniture and cabinetmakers, and other value-added wood processors together with advocates such as environmental organisations to develop and promote markets for eco-certified forest products.
The Canadian Eco-lumber Co-op is the logical next step in the forest certification campaign. Having set certification standards that identify eco-friendly forest products, the Co-op will now make certified products available to the market.
During certification, forest operations are inspected and found to meet or exceed a strong set of environmental and social standards unique to British Columbia. The products are then branded as certified and made available to market, creating incentives for sustainable forest management.
West Coast is actively involved in developing BC’s forest certification standards, which ensure that:
- natural forests are conserved;
- water supplies are protected;
- forest workers and forest-dependent communities are respected;
- free and informed consent of Aboriginal communities is required; and,
- endangered species and their habitats are conserved.
The BC standards have broad support from conservation groups and First Nations.
To make certification a success in BC, it is critical that the production of eco-certified forest products be viable for small business people and community forests. That means connecting them to appropriate markets. The Eco-Lumber Co-op facilitates the flow of eco-certified forest products from members through the necessary processing and distribution channels to their markets. The Eco-Lumber Co-op also works to increasing awareness about, and demand for eco-certified products, ultimately encouraging more responsible forest use on the ground.
The Eco-Lumber Co-op’s practitioner members are viable examples of ecoforestry and labour-intensive value-added manufacturing – examples upon which a more sustainable approach to forestry must be built.
One way that West Coast supporters can help make sustainable forestry a reality in BC is by choosing products from the Canadian Eco-lumber Co-op. To find out more about the Co-op’s furniture, doors, flooring, lumber, timbers, plywood, siding and paneling and custom home packages, visit the Co-op website at
www.ecolumber.ca, call 604-278-4300 or visit the showroom/warehouse at 150-14480 Knox Way, Richmond, BC. Directions can be found on the website.
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The gift that keeps giving, and giving, and giving...
We are grateful to all our donors and supporters, but each month, we
say a special thank you to the members of our West Coast Protectors’
Club. These special donors make small monthly donations to our operating
costs, through an automatic withdrawal from their chequing account or VISA
card. It’s a very simple way to give, and also very painless.
For example, you might allow us to draw just $10 a month from your
account (about the price of one movie, or two lunches, or three coffees).
You’ll hardly notice the money is gone, and at year-end, when we send
you a tax-deductible receipt, you’ll have made a significant
contribution of $120!
And the value of your monthly donation to us goes beyond the face value
of your gift. We can reduce renewal notices to monthly donors (saving
paper and other resources), and your generous gift provides an ongoing,
reliable source of operating funds, allowing us to focus our attention on
emerging and critical issues.
The Protectors’ Club is critical to West Coast’s long-term plans.
It is our most reliable and important means of support on a month to month
basis. We invite you to now become part of this important program. Your
gift, of any amount, is greatly appreciated. However you choose to give,
thank you.
If you have a credit card, we can accept your donation online!
To make a tax-creditable donation to West Coast, click
here, and you will be taken to our secure, encrypted payment
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For more information about benefits and how to get started, call us at
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throughout British Columbia.
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