An excellent way to recognize sustainably harvested Hardwood or Bamboo is to look for the FSC Certified label.
FSC is an acronym for "Forest Stewardship Council," which was established in 1993 to change destructive logging practices as an effort to protect the earth's natural habitat and prevent deforestation. The Forest Stewardship Council represents the world's strongest system for setting Forest Management standards ranging from legal issues, regional scenarios, and environmental impacts surrounding forest management. Their mission is to promote "environmentally appropriate, socially beneficial and economically viable forest management."
To simplify, think of it this way - with FSC certification, every time a tree gets cut down for something, two get planted in its place. It goes much deeper than that, but provides an idea of what the Forest Stewardship Council is about. When a forest manager makes the decision to strive for FSC Certification, they must conform to all applicable FSC rules and practices first. They cannot use the FSC label without first earning certification. Practically anything that you can purchase that is manufactured from trees can be FSC Certified. Not just limited to building materials and finishes; paper, pencils, even musical instruments can be made from FSC certified wood!
Until recently, Bamboo products were not eligible for FSC Certification, but thankfully, they are now! Though it is a popular renewable resource because it regenerates approximately every 7 years, the harvesting practices of some bamboo growers are less than sustainable. Some bamboo is harvested too early, and some countries are actually deforesting their native trees to make way for bamboo forests! Bamboo absolutely needed to be regulated.
For more information, go to the Forest Stewardship Council's website: http://www.fscus.org/about_us/
Credit to Melanie Holden (Holden Design Group)
That's great info David. I earned the GREEN designation last year but wasn't aware of the FSC.