Energy and climate issues have dominated green business news for what seems like forever, but they're hardly the only important stories. This week's news highlight some other long-simmering issues facing companies.

Like forests. The idea of saving trees is as old as the green movement, and a wide range of companies have been doing their part -- reducing paper use, cutting packaging, swearing off crops for which tropical forests are razed -- and, of course, planting trees by the gazillions. But amid all this forest-friendly activity, how many companies truly understand their "forest footprint" -- the impact of their operations on the world's forests? How many even have considered this term, or its underlying concept?

To put it glibly: How many companies have measured the forestry for the trees?

A landmark report issued last week shows that the notion of a forest footprint is nascent, but it's beginning to take root. The first-ever Forest Footprint Disclosure report asked companies to provide data on 11 topics, including what forest materials are acquired, how closely they track their supply chains, how they report their data, and how closely they track risks and opportunities from their forest impacts. Of 217 surveys sent to leading international brands, just 35 were filled out and returned. That's a smallish sampling but, as they say, it's a start.

Another perennial topic, corporate water impacts, also floated to the surface last week, with a new report from Ceres. It found that the vast majority of large, publicly traded companies are failing to adequately manage and disclose the risks they face from water scarcity, an issue that will increasingly bubble up as the world's population increases and the future impacts of climate change come to pass. The report evaluated the corporate water disclosure practices of 100 large companies.

And then there's the vague but intriguing notion of "dirty resources" -- those gleaned at the expense of the environment. Reports issued by several environmental nonprofits found that big-name brands -- including Whole Foods, Bed, Bath and Beyond, Walmart, and Tiffany -- are turning their backs on such resources. In one shining example, Cartier, Sears and more than 60 other retailers have committed to buying gold from environmentally responsible sources.

State of Green Business Highlights: Our two recent State of Green Business Forums were blessed by many things -- terrific speakers, large and enthusiastic audiences (even amid Chicago's snowstorm) … and a surfeit of reporters, bloggers and videographers. You can find the fruits of their labors, including videos of many of the speakers and presentations, on this page. Thanks to all who made the Forums a success.

This report from Ceres looks at the risks companies across sectors face from water mismanagement, and highlights the companies leading their industries in measuring, managing and reporting their water use.

This first annual survey of international firms' awareness of and willingness to disclose their impacts on forests finds low overall awareness, with some firms leading the pack.

The first event to focus on practical solutions for assessing and managing water availability risk, within regional contexts (US and global) and specific to either agriculture or industrial operations/mining/manufacturing.