Builders and designers seeking lumber certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) can now turn to a new database for help in finding specific products and wood species.

The FSC Wood Finder allows users to search by the type of product, its availability, and its location in the U.S. and Canada, FSC Communications Director Brad Kahn said in a post at Trim Tab, the website of the International Living Future Institute.

Although there are hundreds of companies offering FSC-certified wood products, he said, it’s not always easy for builders to find exactly what they need, especially if they need it right away.

The FSC says certification means the forest in which lumber is harvested is being managed for the long-term benefit of the environment. The FSC says it protects old-growth trees as well as rare and threatened species, protects the rights of indigenous people, and limits the size of clear-cuts.

Using FSC-approved wood products can be important in gathering points for green building certification programs, such as Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED).

The FSC says it has certified more than 170 million acres of working forests in the U.S. and Canada. The database was developed in conjunction with the Northwest Natural Resource Group, a regional group promoting sustainable forestry practices.

Product types listed in the database include lumber, panels, millwork, engineered wood products, pressure-treated wood, and windows and doors. Each search produces a list of suppliers, a contact name and telephone number, and email and website links. When wood products are in stock, the database lists availability as “immediate.”