In Alabama, we take great pride in the fact that our implementation rate for best management practices stands at 97 percent. A recent review by the Southern Group of State Foresters Water Resources Committee said Alabama’s level of commitment to its BMP program can serve as an example for other states.

Much of this success can be traced to SFI third-party certification and the program’s commitment to improving practices, building knowledge and training logging professionals. This means a lot to me as State Forester and to people in communities across Alabama.

These facts are in sharp contrast to the misinformation disseminated by market campaigners. Groups like ForestEthics might claim to care about our forests but their tactics suggest otherwise.

Negative, misleading reports do nothing to improve forest management – and risk driving consumers to markets beyond our borders. That’s not good news in Alabama where forests not only support our second-largest manufacturing industry but also provide clean air and water, and habitat for hundreds of wildlife species.

You only have to look at the list of SFI board members to realize they represent environmental, social and economic interests equally, and honestly. And suggestions that the SFI audit process is not rigorous would be news to the independent certification bodies who verify that forest operations meet standard requirements – and are accountable to internationally recognized accreditation bodies.

Close to 2.4 million acres of Alabama’s forests are certified to the SFI Standard, and I see the benefits almost every day. And SFI’s reach goes far beyond certified lands – it addresses the reality that 80 percent of our 22.7 million acres of Alabama’s forests are owned by more than 440,000 non-industrial private landowners.

As one of the independent experts advising the SFI program, I have watched as SFI certification rightfully gained credibility and respect in the forest sector and in markets around the world. In my own state, the Alabama SFI Implementation Committee was awarded an achievement award last year for its outreach and training activities.

As a State Forester, I wish more organizations would follow SFI’s lead in raising awareness about the value of third-party forest certification, and inviting diverse partners to work with them. Encouraging consumers to buy products certified to all credible programs, which definitely includes SFI, is one of the best ways to make a difference in the forest and in the marketplace.

It’s clear to me that certification is a valuable tool for all forest managers, regardless of who owns the land and how the forest is being used – whether it is for water quality, conservation objectives, timber production, recreation or research. You only have to look at the list of SFI program participants to recognize that certification lets managers consider multiple uses and options for the forest.

Governments are important players in ensuring forests are well managed today for future generations, and U.S. national forests are a great example of public lands that would benefit from certification. The study by the Pinchot Institute for Conservation commissioned by the USFS showed the benefits of certification for national forests, and SFI Inc. welcomes the study and the USFS’s open and thorough response.

The USFS mission statement is to “to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of the Nation’s forests and grasslands to meet the needs of present and future generations.” This mission is achieved under sustainable multiple-use management.

Third-party forest certification can help Forest Service managers meet their goals, and SFI’s single standard makes it a lot easier for an agency like the USFS that manages lands across the country. It provides a common framework, with objectives, performance measures and indicators that can be tracked and compared to improve planning, practices and reviews in a consistent and comparable context.

SFI has other advantages when it comes to public lands – from our open complaints process to regional SFI Implementation Committees that help to improve practices on the ground, train forest professionals and address questions about practices.

Two-thirds of the 150 million acres of SFI-certified lands in North America are publicly owned. Obviously, a lot of this is in Canada where the vast majority of forestland is publicly owned. But a quarter of the SFI-certified land in the United States is also in public hands – our program participants include state agencies from Maine to Indiana to Washington.

Of course public lands are not the same as private lands. That’s why the SFI 2005-2009 Standard has specific requirements around public lands – there’s more emphasis on public involvement and program participants must participate in land and resource management planning. I fully expect this is an area we will be examining in our review process leading to the SFI 2010-2014 Standard (you’ll soon be hearing more about our regional workshops early in 2009)

I’m Kathy Abusow, president & CEO of the Sustainable Forestry Initiative, Inc.  This is my first blog, and I’m excited about its prospects.  I’m looking forward to discussing the issues facing forestry today and also to engaging in a dialogue with visitors, not only about certification and sustainability, but how they can be active participants in the health of our forests.  

I have always had a great appreciation for the beauty of the forests.  We love them for the recreation, environmental and spiritual benefits they bring to our lives. At the same time, they provide important products for our every day lives – products like lumber for our homes, paper for the books we read and packaging for some of our favorite products.  But it’s critical that our forests are managed in a way that preserves their abundance for future generations.  That is what the SFI Program is about and I am proud to be leading it.

Across North America, there are 150 million acres (60 million hectares) certified to the SFI standard, meaning these forests are being managed to conserve wildlife habitat, species at risk, water quality and much more.  It also means that the environment is being protected and trees are being replanted in areas that were harvested.  

SFI and other forest certification standards have helped stimulate tremendous progress in managing our forests.  But we still have a long way to go.  Only 10% of the world’s forestland is certified.   We need to raise that amount ever year.  Businesses and consumers can do their part by purchasing forest products that come from certified forests.  

So, that is my first post.  Please feel free to comment and/or send me questions!