Dovetail Partners takes a closer look at developing industry-recognized urban wood certification to help grow awareness and demand for urban wood lumber and products in its recently released report, “Increasing Urban Wood Use Awareness and Product Demand: An analysis of green market opportunities.”

This analysis examined existing programs used in the management and care of the urban forest to identify areas of alignment and potential for green market opportunities. The analysis included identifying needs and gaps in addressing urban wood use and opportunities to increase awareness and product demand.

The project includes working with partners to develop an urban wood certification approach that could be adopted and promoted by existing programs utilized by municipalities and businesses. Dovetail’s partners include The Arbor Day Foundation, Society of Municipal Arborists, Right-of-Way Stewardship Council, Utility Arborists Association, and Tree Care Industry Association. The results of this collaboration are meant to support state urban wood groups, help create consistent messaging, and will be presented to various audiences and venues.

Several areas of opportunity are available for development of an urban wood certification approach and for the promotion of urban wood use. The opportunities summarized in the report include green markets related to: • green building programs; • third-party forest certification programs; • third-party forest certification chain-of-custody programs; • mutual recognition and program partnerships; and • regional activities.