VERMONT SFI IMPLEMENTATION COMMITTEE
Seeks Additional Program Participants
Expanding SFI Engagement in Vermont Through Project Learning Tree Educator Recruitment and Green Careers Program Development
Why this Project Matters
This project, led by the Vermont SFI Implementation Committee, is encouraging greater participation in the SFI Program through green careers programming and training student teachers. SFI Program Participants adhere to sustainable forest management and fiber sourcing practices that encompass a variety of responsibilities including maintaining forest productivity and health and protecting water quality, biological diversity, and special sites of cultural significance.
This commitment also involves providing employee, contractor and harvesting professionals with training and education, supporting research, and broadening the practice of sustainable forestry through landowner outreach and community involvement. SFI Program Participants also support sustainable forestry practices on forestland they manage and promote it on other lands as well.
Why is SFI Involved?
The SFI Community Engagement Grant Program is supporting this project. SFI Program Participants are the foundation of the SFI Program’s success. These entities make a commitment to the SFI standards and have been third-party certified by independent auditors to be in conformance with the SFI Standards. Encouraging greater participation in the Vermont SFI Implementation Committee will help the state enhance its reputation as a sustainable forestry leader.
This project also has a strong youth education component, which is an SFI priority. SFI offers teacher training and engages students in environmental education through Project Learning Tree (PLT) activities. PLT is an initiative of SFI that uses trees and forests as windows on the world to increase youth understanding of the environment and actions they can take to conserve it. PLT activities will be incorporated in the project.
How the Project Builds SFI Community Engagement
This project is leveraging the engagement of the Vermont SFI Implementation Committee to enrich the link between people and forests. This project will utilize the networks and expertise of SFI committee members to encourage contacts across the forest products industry in Vermont to become SFI Program Participants.
The project will also offer PLT training opportunities at Vermont Technical College, Green Mountain College and Sterling College. Through collaboration with industry partners, the students will learn about sustainable forest management and at the same time be able to explore the possibility of a future in forestry. A forestry field day, internships, and job shadowing program for high school, technical school and college students will give industry partners a chance to influence student career choices. The project will use these interactions between students and industry as a platform to engage industry on the myriad benefits of becoming an SFI Program Participant.
Partners
This partnership includes educators, researchers, government, and SFI Program Participants.
- Project lead: Vermont SFI Implementation Committee
- Sustainable Forestry Initiative
- PLT Vermont
- Vermont Dept Forests Parks and Recreation,
- Vermont Forest Products Association
- Vermont Forestry Foundation
- Vermont Tree Farm Program
Related Information
About the Vermont SFI Implementation Committee
The Vermont SFI Implementation Committee is one of 34 SFI Implementation Committees that responds to local needs and issues across the U.S. and Canada through at the state, provincial or regional level. These companies and landowners understand that to be truly successful in conserving our natural resources for future generations, the forest industry must demonstrate progress every year. SFI Program Participants in Vermont use sustainable forestry practices in every aspect of their business, from promptly reforesting lands to promoting the biodiversity of plant and wildlife species and enhancing water quality.
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COPY LINK: https://forests.org/grant-vtsic/