Joshua C. Dickinson III

About the author: Joshua C. Dickinson III is the executive director of the Forest Management Trust, an organization that promotes sustainable management of forests.

Sustainable Forest Management (SFM), a relatively new conservation method, attempts to create a balance between commercial logging and preservation of the rain forest through certification of sustainable forest operations. The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), the leading certification organization, accredits other organizations that in turn offer independent certification of forest operations. Certification allows some "rainforest-friendly" logging to take place in certain areas of the rain forest that have been certified by the FSC. In addition, FSC certification enables consumers to feel at ease knowing they are purchasing forest products that were produced in ways that did not harm the forest. The FSC is supported by...