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CORVALLIS - How "green" is a forest? For forest owners and managers, that question has bearing on forest practices, conservation and marketing. In the last several years, forest certification has developed as a way to identify forest products in the marketplace that come from forests being managed with conservation-minded practices. But not all certification processes demand the same standard or carry the same credibility.

A new publication from Oregon State University Extension Service sorts out various systems of forest certification to help forest owners and managers choose the best system for their forests and markets.

Written by a team of Extension foresters from OSU and University of Wisconsin, the publication explores the opportunities, limitations and costs of forest certification. "Forest certification is no longer a new topic in forestry, but new systems and features are always developing," said Rick Fletcher, one of the publication's authors and an OSU Extension forester in Benton County. "Certification is now a worldwide reality in forest product markets and looks like it will be with us for some time to come."

"Forest Certification in North America," EC1518, is available by mail for $2 per copy plus $3 for shipping and handling. Send your request and check or money order payable to OSU to: Publication Orders, Extension and Station Communications, OSU, 422 Kerr Administration, Corvallis, OR 97331-2119.

Or view it on the web at: http://eesc.oregonstate.edu. Select "Publications and Videos," then "Forestry," then "Business management."