"Beetle kill" trees

Great question, Kath! I doubt that reviewers would feel authorized to allow this kind of exception. I think that it would have to approved through the LEED committees as an alternative compliance path. Maybe FSC would consider taking it on as well, which would also work.Either way, you'd have to have some reliable system of documenting that the wood used on a project actually came from these beetle-kill thinnings, which suggests that doing it through FSC and using their COC systems might be a good approach.That's my sense. Any other thoughts on this one?

I would think that there are environmentally sensitive ways to harvest beetle-kill lumber, and environmentally insensitive ways. I think it would be good to be able to demonstrate the sensitivity of the harvesting for this path.

We have the same issue in BC. The CaGBC has issued a CIR ruling that beetle-kill cannot be counted towards FSC wood, however; I really think they need to make the use this wood credit-able in some manner. Has anyone heard of an ID credit being issued on it's use?

Another way to look at this is whether ue of beetle-kill wood is standard practice that may be laudable but isn't particularly special, or whether it offers significant environmental benefits and is transforming the marketplace. The latter is what USGBC has aimed for with FSC (and many other aspects of the program). I don't know what the answer to that question is in this case—but I wanted to articulate it.

Great questions and comments. I agree that there are a number of items that are in line with the sustainable goals of the LEED credits, but unfortunately don't help on the LEED scorecard. Beetle-kill is a great example of a material worth making changes to allow and encourage. In addition to this beautiful material, the following are also examples of materials that are in line with the ultimate goals of reducing the amount of virgin material harvested for new projects, but unfortunately "count against you" if used in a project as they don't count as reused, FSC-certified, or help with recycled content: 1. Salvaged, sunken sinker logs (pine, cypress, etc.) that sunk to the bottom of bayous or rivers 100+ years ago, are pulled-up, and milled into siding, flooring and wall covering. 2. Katrina-reclaimed cypress wood material came from trees that died when blown over in the storm, were set aside, and later milled into siding and other usable materials. I'm sure there are many more instances where subtle changes and exceptions seem to make sense. The project that used the Katrina-reclaimed material discussed going for an ID credit, but had others that were pursued instead. The ID credit may be the best route for now for Beetle-kill and other materials. Obviously there needs to be some process to hold people accountable for sources of materials (to prevent abuse), but as more and more discussions like this develop, I am certain that modifications can be made.

For the Beatle kill timber and timber from other similar conditions - an analysis needs to be made around the ecological impacts of harvesting OR not harvesting OR partially harvesting the timber....Meaning: How much, if any should be left in place to provide nutrients for regrowth or habitat, etc? For example - Fire is essential to the the regeneration of many western forests - would leaving the timber in place (or some of the timber) as source material for a Fire be beneficial to regenerating the forest? Given that the MR7 Credit is about ecologically based Forestry Management (I.E. FSC), there are questions that range beyond the simple idea that this wood should be harvested and used because it is dead. What if harvesting it is the wrong choice? If a project was going to try to claim that harvested beatle kill timber is ligitamately 'sustainable' and an equivalent to FSC, then some form of scientifically based proof would be needed to support what is essentially an alternative compliance path. Does anyone know of a thoughtful, legitimate study on how to handle the beatle kill timber? The near future will be filled with issues like this as climate change manifests itself... Best, Doug