SFI BLOG
Preparing for Wildfire Season With the SFI Standards and Network
Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) Implementation Committees (SICs) are at the forefront of local support for SFI-certified organizations implementing sustainable forestry standards. As representatives of organizations certified to SFI standards, SIC members work with state agencies, landowners, universities, and other partners to help connect forest managers with tools, training, and technical assistance to navigate fire resilience across the United States and Canada.
An Urban Forest Inflection Point: Paul Johnson on SFI’s New Urban and Community Forest Sustainability Standard
The Sustainable Forestry Initiative’s Board of Directors has approved a first-of-its kind Urban and Community Forest Sustainability Standard (UCFSS) for organizations that own, manage, or are responsible for urban and/or community forests. The UCFSS promotes sustainable urban and community forests based on 16 objectives, such as Community, People, and Indigenous Participation; Human Health and Well-Being; and Protection and Conservation of Biodiversity.
Celebrating Voices from SFI’s Indigenous Relations Team
June is National Indigenous History Month in Canada. In the spirit of celebrating the cultures, traditional knowledge, and achievements of Indigenous Peoples across Canada, I’d like to highlight my Indigenous colleagues that I’ve been working with here at SFI’s Indigenous Relations (IR) team.
Finding Your Place in the Green Space
In Spring 2022, Dr. Cathy Keeler was beginning to wrap up her Ph.D. in Integrative Public Policy and Development at Tuskegee University and looking for job opportunities. While browsing the Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) website, she found Project Learning Tree (an initiative of SFI) and the Green Mentor program.
Daniella (jia lu) Zhang: Wildfire management and indigenous cultural burns—synergies, conflicts, and shared vision for resilient landscapes
I had the pleasure of attending the 2023 SFI Annual Conference in collaboration with PEFC Week in Vancouver, British Columbia, from May 14-18, as a sponsored member of a delegation of 41 students and young professionals from all around the world. The theme of this year’s conference was “Forest + People + Nature positive,” which was reflected in the diverse array of session topics, from climate-smart forestry to supply-chain leadership. The most exciting topic for me was Indigenous rights and reconciliation through adaptive co-management of forest resources.
Explore highlights from the SFI/PEFC Annual Conference!
Over 500 people joined us for the SFI/PEFC Forest + People + Nature positive conference. This year's theme highlighted the positive ways in which sustainable forest management can be positive for people, forests, and nature while evolving to address expectations of the workforce, community, government, customer, and conservation priorities.
Jah’Niya Myers: Facing Firsts with Mentorship
As a first-generation college student, Jah’Niya Myers continually faces a number of firsts. But when she was matched with her Project Learning Tree (PLT) green mentor, Lydia Kidane, PLT’s Education Programs Coordinator, she found someone who could relate.
Optimism on Earth Day: International Panel Cites Sustainable Forestry as Key to Climate-Change Adaptation and Mitigation
“Invest in Our Planet” is the theme of Earth Day 2023. Earthday.org, which coordinates the day’s events around the world, is “focused on engaging the more than 1 billion people, governments, institutions, and businesses who participate in Earth Day to recognize our collective responsibility and to help accelerate the transition to an equitable, prosperous green economy for all.”
Indigenous Learning and Leadership at the SFI/PEFC Annual Conference
SFI is teaming up with PEFC International to host the 2023 SFI Annual Conference in collaboration with PEFC Week in Vancouver, BC, Canada, May 14-18, 2023.
Study Shows Positive Impact of Best Management Practices Required by the SFI Fiber Sourcing Standard Extends to Uncertified Forestlands
The Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) Fiber Sourcing Standard has long required manufacturers of wood products (such as lumber, plywood, and paper) to acquire raw materials from landowners and forest managers who adhere to best management practices (BMPs) designed to protect water quality and quantity before, during, and after forest management activities take place. The SFI Forest Management Standard also requires adherence to BMPs.
SFI Celebrates International Women’s Day
For International Women’s Day 2023, SFI, Project Learning Tree (PLT), and PLT Canada (PLTC) are highlighting how we #EmbraceEquity.
Managed Forests are Key to Gopher Tortoise Conservation
Most news articles involving the Endangered Species Act (ESA) describe proposals to list species as threatened or endangered, or the decline of those already listed.
Forester’s Blog: Mountain Pine Beetles – A Threat to Forests Across the Continent
Autumn, my favorite season, is almost here. Tomorrow, Thursday, September 22, 2022, marks the autumnal equinox—the start of fall in the Northern Hemisphere.
COP15 30×30 Commitment: An Important Step Toward Conservation and Sustainability
A commitment to 30x30, was among four goals and 23 targets for achievement of the 15th Conference of Parties to the UN COP15.
2022 Scorecards Illustrate SFI’s Commitment to Sustainability
It is my pleasure to share with you some of SFI’s many successes over the past 12 months with our impressive network.
SFI Certified Forests Play Key Role in Gopher Tortoise Conservation
The FWS recently determined that populations of the gopher tortoise in the southeastern United States are stable or expanding in most of its range.
