The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), overseers of a forest certification system, presented its 2023 FSC-US Leadership Awards that recognize advances in responsible forest management and forest conservation.

“It is a great honor to recognize the efforts of such diverse organizations and individuals,” said Stuart Hale, co-chair of the FSC-US Board of Directors. “They are leading the way in demonstrating how well-managed forests can provide benefits through sustainable resources and natural climate solutions.”

The broad array of this year's winners demonstrates the many ways people are using the FSC system to achieve organizational success, the FSC said. The honorees span Indigenous groups, forest owners, architects, builders, consumer product companies, and more who contribute to the movement toward responsible sourcing and forest management. “The leadership and commitment demonstrated by each recipient is an inspiration to all, and shows the possibilities that have become realities,” said Hale. 

2023 FSC Leadership Awards winners

This year's winners include: 

• Allegheny Mountain Hardwood Flooring / Hickman Lumber / Hickman Timber Management for producing 100% FSC-certified high-quality hardwood flooring through their sawmill, which in 1999 was the first sawmill in Pennsylvania to become FSC-certified through Smartwood.
• Asociación de Comunidades Forestales de Petén / Association of Forest Communities of Petén (ACOFOP) for 20 years of near-zero deforestation rate in the 400,000+ hectares of FSC-certified tropical forest under their Community Forest Enterprise management model.
• The Coquille Indian Tribe, for their outstanding sustainable forest management and conservation work, leading unique legal accomplishments in tribal trust forestland, fish and wildlife management, and innovative product marketing.

In addition, the following building projects were awarded a 2023 FSC Leadership Award:

• Hines, WZMH Architects, 3XN, MKA, and Eastern Construction for 100% FSC-certified mass timber in T3 Bayside Phase 1 along Toronto’s waterfront, a 262,000 square foot, 10-story mass timber office building.
• Samsara, Hathaway Dinwiddie Construction Company, WRNS Studio, and Canopy Project Management for 100% FSC-certified wood used in Samsara’s 133,500 square foot interior build-out of their San Francisco headquarters, the 100% FSC-certified mass timber building 1 De Haro.
• Emerson Collective, Redbrick LMD, Winstanley Architects & Planners, Adjaye & Associates, StructureCraft, Banneker Communities, and HEP Construction for Sycamore & Oak, a 23,000 square foot, 100% FSC-certified mass timber retail village in Washington, D.C.’s Congress Heights neighborhood.