The U.S. Green Building Council’s decision to recognize the SFI Standards is good news for forests and great news for green building.

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.

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.

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.

Most people understand that the widespread use of fossil fuels contributes to the presence of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.

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.

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.

At the Sustainable Forestry Initiative, we believe the future of our forests and our shared quality of life depend on strengthening the vital links between healthy forests, responsible purchasing and sustainable communities.

Habitat for Humanity’s 2015 Home Builder Blitz helped more than 200 families with building, rehabilitating or repairing houses across the U.S.

This Father’s Day is a special one for me because it’s the first one in my lifetime when I will not be able to call my dad and wish him well. You see, I lost him earlier this year just short of his 90th birthday.

When I began work at Nature Canada six months ago I asked my team for a list of key partners who I should introduce myself to. Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) was in the list of most trusted partners, and when I met with the SFI team at their smart new Ottawa offices I quickly understood why.

Last week I found myself driving through central North Carolina following a meeting, and decided to pay a quick visit to my alma mater at Duke University.

There was a time when I began every morning by strapping my boots on… but that’s been a long time ago. Anymore, my morning routine is more likely to focus on a cup of coffee and finding my glasses.

Fear and uncertainty surrounds much of how we think about our planet. It seems that every week there is new information focused on imminent extinctions, critical resource depletion, or insurmountable ecological degradation.

SFI is known for constantly striving to improve sustainable forest management, elevate conservation, strengthen communities, and ultimately leave behind a legacy of vibrant future forests.