The Good Wood Advisory Centre (GWAC) is part of a world­wide network of groups working to halt the destruction of rainforests, old growth forests and other native forests of high conservation or social value. Formed in 1989 as a non­profit, incorporated association, the group's aim is to sustain forest values by changing the ways people think about wood. Towards this, the group researches and distributes information about the social and environmental contexts of wood; its production, processing, application, and recycling.

Much of the impetus to form the Good Wood Advisory Centre arose out of the efforts people protesting the importing of rainforest timbers during the late 1980's and early 1990's. As a result of these protests, the connection between Australia's timber consumption patterns and global rainforest destruction quickly became evident to many people. A demand for information on sustainably produced timbers grew accordingly. For example, the timber-consuming public began to ask questions such as:

* Where does the wood we find in shops come from?

* What are the environmental and social impacts of the woods we use?

* How do we minimise the waste of wood?

The mainstream industry was doing little to answer questions such as these, so in 1991, the Good Wood Advisory Centre researched and published its first edition of the Good Wood Guide.

In writing each subsequent edition, the publication adopted the view that there are good social and environmental reasons to purchase timber which is grown, cut, or milled locally by an environmentally aware supplier. It was reasoned that purchasing timber from a local supply enables consumers to achieve a closer connection with their timber, the people who cut it, and the forest from which it comes. When the source of timber is close, and the number of links in the supply chain are few:

* it is easier for consumers to directly assess the environmental impacts and take responsibility for the use of the timber in question;

* consumers are in a better position to influence the practices of the supplier; and

* less energy and resources are used in transport, packaging, shipping and other processes, all of which unnecessarily increase total energy costs.

It is hoped that the Good Wood Guide can help foster a responsibile attitude toward timber and timber products. Reduction, Responsible use, Recycling and Reforesting (the four R's): each finds a place in the Good Wood Advisory Centre's environmentally informed network of timber consumers, architects, builders, timber workers, craftspeople, furniture makers, timber merchants, sawmillers, foresters, farmers and teachers.