A material that’s been around since people built shelters — wood — is increasingly being proposed for low- and mid-rise buildings.

Companies behind these “mass timber” projects say wood is a lower-carbon alternative to steel or concrete and brings other benefits, such as faster construction time and lower cost than concrete and steel. Advocates say the wood product, made of compressed layers, offer good fire safety as well.

As an economist who studies forestry and natural resources, I took an interest in this building trend when I heard a local bar on campus was going to be replaced by a 13-storey building made out of wood.

I see any increase in the use of wood in buildings as positive for reducing the substantial carbon footprint of buildings. But it is critical to consider where wood is sourced and whether forests are managed sustainably.

The work forests do

One way researchers assess the environmental footprint of a pr