Does it seem far-fetched to think that a 2 X 4 with a stamp saying that it came from a well-managed forest could command a better price than one without? If so, get ready, for just as organically grown tomatoes cost more than the other kind, some lumber which is certified to have come from forests which are managed in an environmentally sound manner already sells for a premium and more is on the way.
The 'green certification" movement is up, running and gathering momentum. Initially, the purpose of Smart Wood (an early green wood organization which was an offshoot of the Rainforest Alliance) was to save rainforests from destructive clearcutting. Until recently they operated only internationally but they have been forming partnerships with environmental groups and are now active in the U.S. Scientific Certification Systems (SCS), an organization based in California, has been certifying woodlands, and has given its seal of approval to large tracts of land in Maine, Wisconsin and California.
Another organization, the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), gives accreditation to the people who do the certifying. The FSC was itself formed with help from the Woodworkers Alliance for Rainforest Protection (W ARP), a group of users who are committed to buying wood that does not deplete the supply of rare species or contribute to deforestation.
Involvement with these organizations is voluntary and is based on the fact that people are willing to pay more for lumber that has been appropriately harvested from sustainable forests. Landowners allow inspectors to evaluate their operations in hopes that markets for their products will be stronger than traditional outlets.