Posted by Ben Silvernail, SFI Intern

The 2010 National Report on Sustainable Forests was recently released, providing an excellent resource for current data and analysis from the US Forest Service. The content of the report is structured around the Montreal Process Criteria and Indicators for Forest Sustainability (MPC&I), which provide a comprehensive framework to assess and describe forest trends related to the ecological, social, and economic aspects of sustainability. The Canadian and U.S. governments are signatories to the Montréal Process, and the MP C&I are reflected in the SFI 2010-2014 Standard’s principles, objectives, performance measures, and indicators.

The review process of the report was organized by the Roundtable on Sustainable Forests, which includes organizations, such as SFI Inc., who are committed to responsible, long-term forest management. The insight and information included in this report should help analysts, land managers, and policy-makers address prevailing and increasingly complex issues surrounding long-term sustainability goals, such as the evolving relationship between forests, climate change, and bioenergy.

The 2010 report highlights several areas where the SFI program is helping to improve forest health and knowledge through its standard. The report’s assessment of Indicator 7.60, regarding the capacity to conduct and apply research and development aimed at improving forest management and delivery of forest goods and services, acknowledges that “forest certification standards, particularly the Sustainable Forestry Initiative, require demonstration of research.” This is excellent recognition of SFI’s contribution to research, including the $1.2 billion that SFI program participants have invested in research since 1995, and our Conservation and Community Partnerships Grants Program launched in 2010 that has provided over $1 million to date to improve forest management in the United States and Canada and responsible procurement globally.

The report also brings attention to the fact that forest certification systems provide a clear means to demonstrate that private and public forestry organizations conform to Best Management Practices, and also work as a market based mechanism to protect special sites.

While the report is national in scale, its success ultimately depends on action and innovation at all scales – national, state, and local – and coordination with those who may not traditionally be a part of the forestry community.  At SFI, we look forward to continuing to work with all our partners and all who care about our forests and this report lays the groundwork for us all to better understand and enhance forest health and productivity.

Every year when we release our Progress Report, I am amazed at how much the SFI program and its many partners have achieved.

Here are just a few of the highlights from this year’s report:

• 5,584 resource and logging professionals trained in 2010;
• $81.4 million invested by program participants in forest research activities in 2010;
• 948 SFI Implementation Committee members;
• 36% increase in chain-of-custody certified locations from the start of 2010 to April 2011;
• SFI commitment of $1.1 million through its Conservation and Community Partnerships Grant Program in 2010 and 2011 – a total value of $4.2 million once partner contributions are included;
• more than five million acres/two million hectares of lands held or managed by Aboriginal communities certified to the SFI 2010-2014 Standard;
• new SFI on-product labels to strengthen transparency.

It’s obvious why the title of our Progress Report is The Bigger Picture: Conservation. Community. Integrity.

For SFI Inc., a rigorous certification standard is a starting point – it anchors an independent program broader than any other third-party forest certification program in North America; one that supports conservation research, reaches out to communities, and is built on integrity.

SFI Inc. Board Chair Bob Luoto put it well in his message: “. . . what impresses me most about the program is the fact that literally thousands of people across North America are putting it to work . . .”

We invited certification bodies who conduct the detailed third-party audits to the SFI standard to submit comments. Mike Ferruci of NSF-ISAR Forestry Program spoke to the SFI program rigor: “My advice for companies that want to be SFI certified is to make sure everything is in order before I arrive. I have no choice – if the SFI standard requirements are not being met, and I see a major non-conformance, I won’t be issuing an SFI certificate.”

SFI stands with other certification programs as a respected, internationally recognized standard. It also stands alone. It is the only program in North America requiring that program participants support and engage in research activities, that they broaden the practice of sustainable forestry through landowner and public outreach. It stands alone as the only program with a grassroots network of SFI Implementation Committees who train loggers and participate in important community events.

Conservation. Integrity. Community. All important parts of the SFI bigger picture as we work together to ensure our forests continue to offer the many values we treasure to our children, and to their children.

Read the full report here

Read our news release here

Nadine Block, Senior Director, Government Outreach

SFI sponsored the Fourth Potomac Forum on Illegal Logging and Associated Trade in Washington last week so stakeholders from around the world could talk about what is being done – and what more should be done – to combat illegal logging.

Hosted by Forest Trends, the Forum brought together more than 100 representatives from U.S. and foreign governments, NGOs, forest products manufacturers and buyers to share experiences and learn from one other. In addition to SFI Inc., the sponsors were the World Bank, PROFOR, USAID, the U.S. Forest Service and Forest Legality Alliance. SFI Inc., along with Forest Trends and the World Bank, issued a news release at the close of the one-day forum highlighting the successful outcomes.

We heard how markets are demanding and rewarding transparency and legality, gathered insights from U.S. government representatives tasked with implementing the amended Lacy Act, and learned about the new EU Timber Regulation and developing actions in Asia. I came away with a better understanding of the complexity of the issue – even organizations investing a lot of effort struggle to track down all the information they need to guarantee the legality of products. And participants gained appreciation for the role forest certification can play. One speaker closed his presentation on the new EU Timber Regulation with a slide that said: “When in doubt, ask for FSC/PEFC/SFI”.

Forest certification doesn’t replace the need to submit appropriate import declaration information, but it does show a company has taken proactive steps to keep illegal wood or plant material out of its supply chain. SFI standard requirements stipulate that program participants must comply with all appropriate laws in North America, and when they are buying products from offshore they must avoid controversial sources of supply such as illegal logging. As part of a panel on certification, I had an opportunity to talk about steps SFI takes to address the problem and the challenge we face since just 10 percent of the world’s forests are certified.

SFI Inc. sponsored the forum through our Conservation and Community Partnerships Grant Program, which is fostering partnerships to improve forest management in the United States and Canada, and responsible procurement globally. The Potomac Forum is just one of the many activities the SFI program is involved in as part of its efforts to thwart illegal logging. Through our conservation grant program, we are supporting the World Resources Institute (WRI) in their creation of an open access, map-based, global information hub so users can conduct due diligence on forest trade. We recently authored an article on How Certification Addresses Illegal Logging in the UK’s Timber in Construction magazine. And on June 14 we will co-host a public webinar with WRI on illegal logging.

Many others came away with positive impressions about the Potomac Forum and the critical need to work together to address this important global issue. We invite you to watch these videos featuring Michael Jenkins from Forest Trends, Joe Lawson from MWV, and James Griffiths from the World Business Council for Sustainable Development sharing their thoughts about the event:

Nadine Block, Senior Director, Government Outreach

SFI is proud to be a sponsor of an important upcoming event that tackles a major global problem: the Fourth Potomac Forum on Illegal Logging and Associated Trade, hosted by Forest Trends on May 4 in Washington DC. Co-sponsors include the World Bank, USAID, and the Forest Legality Alliance. The objective of the Potomac Forum is to develop a better understanding of the different initiatives currently being undertaken by governments, industry, and NGOs related to the global trade of legally sourced wood products. Speakers will address experiences with the Lacey Act, views on the recently passed EU Timber Regulation, and other important topics. SFI will participate as a speaker on a panel exploring how certification standards are working with the new regulations.

SFI’s support for the Potomac Forum comes through our Conservation and Community Partnerships Grant Program which fosters partnerships between organizations interested in improving forest management in the United States and Canada, and responsible procurement globally.

SFI’s support for the Potomac Forum ties directly to the SFI 2010-2014 Standard requirements related to avoidance of controversial sources, including Performance Measure 12.1: “Program participants shall ensure that their fiber sourcing programs support the principles of sustainable forestry, including efforts to thwart illegal logging” and Performance Measure 13.1: “Program participants shall avoid controversial sources and encourage socially sound practices.”

The Potomac Forum, which SFI is sponsoring for the third time, is one of several activities that SFI is engaged in to take action on illegal logging and to raise awareness about the role of certification standards in supporting the multitude of market and policy demands for non-controversial, or legal, wood products. An SFI grant is also supporting the World Resources Institute (WRI) in the creation of the Forest Legality Alliance Risk Tool, an open access, map-based, global information hub so users can conduct due diligence on forest trade. SFI is a member of the Forest Legality Alliance and will be hosting a webinar on illegal logging with WRI in June. Wherever you fall along the forest supply chain, we hope you will participate in one of these activities and learn more about the important initiatives being undertaken to address a major global problem.

Nadine Block, Senior Director of Government Outreach

Today the White House hosted the annual Easter Egg Roll and, for the third consecutive year, selected packaging from SFI chain of custody certified paperboard for the 2011 souvenir egg.  The White House unveiled the official souvenir design and logo in late March.  The egg itself has been manufactured from FSC-certified wood. The National Park Foundation sells the souvenir egg to benefit the White House Easter Egg Roll.

With nearly three quarters of all certified forests in North America meeting or recognized by our standard, we at SFI are pleased the White House is supporting responsibly managed forests with the Easter Egg Roll.  SFI’s comprehensive standard backs a strong commitment to responsible forest management and continuous improvement on SFI-certified lands across North America.  I also think it speaks volumes that the White House and National Park Foundation are recognizing two valid certification programs — the FSC and SFI.  They are not the first organizations to acknowledge the value of both standards. They join a long list of organizations, companies and associations around the world — including the United Nations, the Society of American Foresters and the National Association of State Foresters — who also appreciate the value of multiple forest certification programs.

We are thrilled, yet again, to play a role in this wonderful American tradition, and we hope the White House and other government entities increasingly use certified products, as it sends a signal when government leaders promote responsible forestry by sourcing certified products.