Using the Guide
Welcome to the Sustainable Wood for Cities Pathway Guide (The Guide). Architects, engineers, city officials, developers, forestry and wood experts, can directly use and customize The Guide to address a variety of specific needs. Users are invited to apply it to a particular project or sourcing scenario, such as a new park bench, public housing project, public transit infrastructure, or boardwalk. The Guide's pathway assessment process can be adapted to the needs and availability of information for a given project looking to use sustainable wood sourcing, and can help shape policies that support the use of sustainable wood.
Step by Step Process
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Before jumping into the step by step process we recommend reviewing the Pathways overview page and all of individual pathway pages to understand how they might relate to your project's wood choices.
1. Create a City Sustainability Goals Summary
Download the worksheet and complete the City Sustainability Goals Summary section and Table #1 to begin structuring your sourcing strategy.
2. Define Parameters of Wood Needs
Using Table #2 in the worksheet document, outline the project concept and define project requirements completing the Wood Needs Report. Think about the volume of wood your project would need, the ideal or necessary characteristics of wood, and the limitations your project may face.
3. Assess Project Alignments Through the Sustainable Sourcing Pathways
Consider the eight Sustainable Sourcing Pathways to see if there are obvious matches for the project. Keep in mind that some pathways may follow the lead of another.
4. Create a High-Level Sustainable Sourcing Assessment Matrix
Using Table #3 in the worksheet document, create an integrated Strategy using multiple Pathways to serve the project, and the sustainability goals of the city. Record this in the Wood Sourcing Strategy Assessment Matrix. You may duplicate this matrix and create multiple strategies with differing emphasis on various pathways.
5. Develop an Integrative Strategy
After completing Table #3, develop an integrative Strategy using the worksheet that builds relationships and synergies between the different pathways to increase total sustainability benefits.
6. Use the Levels Concept and Voluntary Scores
Using Table #4, complete the Wood Sourcing Strategy Comparison Matrix, evaluate and contrast the different Strategies assessed. The levels for each Pathway, from 0 to 3, can be totaled in order to roughly compare each Strategy’s degree of intervention.
7. Consider Influence on New or Existing Policies
Consider how this approach can influence new or existing policies to improve long term uptake and outcomes and ensure the intent is delivered clearly and in all project communications.