I had the opportunity to attend the 42nd Annual National Indian Timber Symposium earlier this month. The InterTribal Timber Council coordinates the event, which is hosted by a different tribe each year.

At the end of each year, SFI takes time to give thanks, reflect on the past year, and look forward to the next year. We continue to work with a diverse network to expand our reach and commitment to future forests.

One of the best ways to make buildings better for our environment is to use as much wood as possible in construction. However, many of wood’s positive attributes in construction depend, in part, on whether the forest resource is well managed.

As I travel from tradeshows to conferences, and even chat with family and friends, and attempt to explain the Sustainable Forestry Initiative’s (SFI) core mission, I’ve noticed a recurring theme.

Let’s stop talking, so we can hear how quiet it is….

Here’s a fact about wetlands that many Canadians may find surprising: according to the Geological Survey of Canada, the peat in Canada’s wetlands stores almost 60 percent of all the carbon stored in soils across the country.

You might have heard that more than 51 million people in the United States and Canada participate in birdwatching as a hobby, but you may be surprised to learn that nearly half of all private landowners provide at least one nest box (or “birdhouse”) on their property.

It seems that we live in a time of magnified environmental impacts. When I was a kid, we didn’t worry about recycling, or air pollution, or water pollution, or whether the wood in our dining table came from a sustainable source.

On April 19, 2016, so many of us were deeply saddened when we learned of the loss of our close friend and wonderful colleague, Rob Olszewski. We remember Rob for his passion for forests, his great big smile and his even bigger heart.

Tackling climate change is a critical global issue. Science tells us that every economic, social, and environmental value we hold dear will be affected if we can’t stabilize the climate by mid-century.

My fellow State Foresters and I are committed to maintaining and expanding markets for the broad array of sustainable forest products produced in our nation’s well-managed working forests.

The SFI Forest Management Standard is used by dozens of Indigenous communities in Canada and the US to manage millions of acres of forest land.

When it comes to the health of our nation’s forests and the communities that depend on them, we occupy common ground. Another thing we share is our respect for the U.S. Green Building Council’s decision to create a pathway for more U.S. forests to earn Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) credits.

Creating a new pathway for family forest owners to earn Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) points is some of the best news for forests that I’ve heard in a long, long time.

At Ducks Unlimited Canada, our goal is to ensure abundant wetlands, waterfowl, and associated wildlife for generations to come while also improving Canadian lives.