SANTA ROSA, CA – [October 15, 2025] – The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) Redwood Empire Chapter is proud to announce two upcoming events, both held in alignment with National Forest Products Week CA’s statewide celebration of the value of forest products, proactive stewardship, and circular, local economies. These events will convene industry leaders, innovators, and advocates to explore how regional wood utilization can enhance forest health, improve wildfire resilience, and drive building decarbonization goals across California.
The first event, a national webinar titled “Building Regional Supply Chains in Support of CA Forests,” will be held virtually on October 20, from 1:00 pm – 2:30 pm. This esteemed panel will discuss the critical role in-state wood products play in supporting the built environment’s decarbonization efforts and strengthening regional economies. The discussion will cover climate-smart forestry, the necessity of local manufacturing, and opportunities to address infrastructure gaps.
The second event, “Celebrating Sonoma County’s Sustainable Wood Utilization Innovators,” offers an in-person workshop and mixer on October 22, from 3:00 pm – 6:30 pm, at the Forestree Collective site in Penngrove. Participants will have the exclusive opportunity to tour the site, including seeing the first contemporary in-state produced mass timber structure and a solar kiln utilizing small-diameter logs. The event will culminate in an expert local panel featuring business owners focused on recovering and utilizing Sonoma County’s invaluable local wood resources, followed by a networking mixer.
USGBC Redwood Empire extends sincere gratitude to our partners who have made these events possible. A special thank you to our host, Forestree Collective, and to all our expert speakers and panelists for sharing their invaluable insights. We also thank our generous sponsors, the Watershed Center and USGBC-California, for their commitment to a sustainable and resilient future for California’s forests and built environment.
Event Details & Registration:
Building Regional Supply Chains in Support of CA Forests (Webinar):
- Date: October 20
- Time: 1:00 pm – 2:30 pm
- Register: [Link Building Regional Supply Chains in Support of CA Forests]
(https://usgbc-rec.org/event/building-regional-supply-chains-in-support-of-ca-forests/)
Celebrating Sonoma County’s Sustainable Wood Utilization Innovators (In-Person):
- Date: October 22
- Time: 3:00 pm – 6:30 pm
- Location: Forestree Collective, Penngrove, CA
- Register: [Celebrating Sonoma County’s Sustainable Wood Utilization Innovators]
(https://usgbc-rec.org/event/celebrating-sonoma-countys-sustainable-wood-utilization-innovators/)
About National Forest Products Week
National Forest Products Week (NFPW) is an annual, nationwide observance designated by Congress in 1960 and proclaimed by every sitting U.S. President since. Observed during the third week of October, NFPW is a time to honor the essential role that forests and the forest products industry play in American life, connecting environmental health with economic vitality.
It celebrates the people—from foresters and loggers to mill workers and builders—who responsibly manage forests and transform renewable materials into thousands of products we use daily. Crucially, the celebration highlights that actively managed forests and their products, such as sustainable wood for construction, are a powerful solution to climate change, offering a renewable, less carbon-intensive alternative to concrete, steel, and plastic.