SFI BLOG
Sometimes It Takes a Bigger Perspective to Truly See the Forest
Not long ago, I was in northwestern Ontario sailing high above the blanket of boreal forests stretching as far as the eye could see. I brought my two boys, aged 16 and 14, to see this place with me, to feel the forest and its people. We were on our way to Birch Lake, a remote location northeast of Ear Falls, accessible only by foot, snowmobile in the winter, or floatplane in the summer.
Forest Impacts Matter, But What Are They?
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.
We Will Always Remember You Rob Olszewski
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.
SFI Program Eligibility for LEED Points Is Good News for Cooperation on Climate Change
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.
Broader Eligibility for LEED Credits Creates a Bridge to a Greener Economy
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.
Indigenous Peoples across North America Welcome the Green Building Community with LEED Recognition of SFI
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.
LEED Recognition for SFI and ATFS Is Good News for Forests and the Communities that Rely on Them
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.
Best news for forests that I’ve heard in a long, long time
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.
LEED Recognition for SFI Will Help Improve Water Quality and Conserve Biodiversity
At Ducks Unlimited Canada, our goal is to ensure abundant wetlands, waterfowl, and associated wildlife for generations to come while also improving Canadian lives.
New LEED compliance path creates market opportunity for responsibly managed forests
The U.S. Green Building Council’s decision to recognize the SFI Standards is good news for forests and great news for green building.
LEED Recognition for SFI Gets a Big Thumbs Up from Organized Labour
I have been a rank and file International Woodworkers of America woodworker and now Steelworkers member since the age of 18 when I was hired at a lumber and planer mill in British Columbia.
Hallelujah! Forest Certification Recognized in LEED for Its Role in Promoting Legal, Responsible and Certified Sources
The entire forest community is celebrating some huge news. The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) has created a pathway for forests certified to SFI to earn Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) credits through a new pilot Alternative Compliance Path (ACP) credit.
On the value of forests, and the importance of clarifying deforestation
When I was a kid tromping through the Pennsylvania woods with my uncles, I knew instinctively when I was in a forest. To me, the leafy shroud of hardwoods on those rugged hillsides made it self-evident.
SFI Annual Conference Goes Zero to Help Future Forests Grow Big
Most people understand that the widespread use of fossil fuels contributes to the presence of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.
2015 SFI Annual Conference Student Scholars: Celebrating the Past, Looking Towards the Future
I can’t clearly remember what I was doing 20 years ago. I’d like to think that I was exploring the local forest, as eight-year-old boys do… turning over a log in search of a salamander, though likely finding a far less interesting leopard slug.
Plum Creek CEO honored for leadership and advocacy by SFI
SFI recognized Rick Holley, the CEO of Seattle-based Plum Creek Timber Company, this month for his longstanding work in illustrating how wood that’s produced from responsibly managed forests ultimately benefits our communities.