Today marks the launch of SFI’s In Case You Were Wondering section of the website (sfiprogram.org/facts). This part of the site is a resource for anyone with questions about forest certification or SFI and explains the values our program is grounded in, the importance of promoting responsible forest management and helps
consumers make informed purchasing decisions.

Independence and inclusion, rigorous third party audits and understanding eco labels are the themes covered throughout this area of our site. We showcase leaders in their respective fields with videos and information featuring me and other key contributors to forest certification:

Additionally, there is a “share” feature on each page, making it easy for you to post and email information about the site to your social networks.

I couldn’t be more excited about the site, and we hope you find it valuable. Feel free to share your feedback by commenting on the post or emailing info@sfiprogram.org.

Allison Welde is SFI Director, Conservation Partnerships and Communications, and identifies areas of potential collaboration with conservation groups and other SFI stakeholders.

The Wildlife Habitat Improvement  Practices program at Clemson University, is one of nine projects awarded funding earlier this year as part of SFI’s Conservation and Community Grant Program.  The goal of the Clemson program is to research and share wildlife habitat improvement practices, inform SFI Standard Objectives for wildlife management, and help other forest landowners implement activities to improve wildlife habitat.  Through this program, Clemson aims to foster greater understanding, acceptance and support of responsible forest management by the general public.  As part of their outreach efforts, Clemson recently launched a new website which provides background information and updates on the project achievements.

Clemson University students majoring in forest resources, wildlife and fisheries biology, and environmental and natural resource management are a key component in the success of the SFI-funded project.  This fall, 42 undergraduate students enrolled in a Wildlife Management class are working with project co-directors to establish and sample a series of vegetation plots in demonstration sites to evaluate the effects of select silvicultural practices on wildlife habitat.  Two graduate students enrolled in the course are also helping to develop a plan to have the Clemson forest certified to the SFI Standard.   By participating in the project students are gaining a better understanding of integrated forest and wildlife habitat management,  as well as the requirements and goals of the SFI program.  The SFI project has become an invaluable teaching tool that is enriching the education experience of students majoring in natural resource management and related fields.

The Wildlife Habitat Improvement  Practices program is not only researching best forest management practices, but will demonstrate lessons learned to those who can benefit from learning about improved management activities, including forest landowners, forest managers, foresters, wildlife biologists and conservationists who are interested in integrating wildlife habitat improvement practices into forests managed for timber products. Upon completion of the research, Clemson and its partners, including SFI, will host a field day to demonstrate their findings to landowners and managers, taking the next step to inform new practices that benefit wildlife, meet SFI requirements and assist in gaining public support for responsible forest management.

Check out the Clemson Wildlife Habitat Improvement Practices program’s new website and keep up to date with the great work going on there.

Allison Welde is SFI Director, Conservation Partnerships and Communications, and identifies areas of potential collaboration with conservation groups and other SFI stakeholders.

The BC Ministry of Environment Ecosystems Branch in partnership with the South Coast Conservation Program (SCCP) recently completed a technical review of grizzly bear habitats along British Columbia’s (BC) Pacific Coast. Noted coastal grizzly bear ecologist Grant MacHutchon was contracted by the BC Ministry of Environment Ecosystems Branch, with financial support from SFI to aid in the project. Approximately 1200 grizzly bear habitats were reviewed in the mid-coast portion of the project area along the BC coast. Some of the habitat areas were adjusted in size, shape or location because of new classifications or previous errors. This work has created a substantially more accurate and improved map and database of grizzly bear habitats on the mid-coast of BC. In turn, this information is currently being used by forest planners and others involved in the ecosystem management in this part of the BC coast region to reach a balance between humans and the environment.

The SCCP has been using grant funding from the SFI Conservation and Community Partnerships Grant Program to develop materials and tools to identify and protect habitat and populations of forest-dependent plant and animal species at risk on 40.7 million acres/16.5 million hectares of forest on BC Pacific Coast, including grizzly bears. The core goals of this project are to bring together SFI-certified companies, including those owned by First Nations, government and conservation interests, to collaboratively develop material and tools to protect habitat and populations of at risk forest-dependent animal and plant species.

SFI’s Conservation and Community Partnerships Grant Program fosters partnerships between organizations interested in improving forest management in the United States and Canada, and responsible procurement globally.

Last week, I had the privilege of speaking at the Sustainable Packaging Forum in Phoenix, AZ. I spoke to the “Power of Partnerships,” which has been an important theme for SFI throughout 2010.

Our partnerships with groups from Habitat for Humanity to Time Inc to the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation have allowed us to get involved in so many projects we’re proud of. Partnerships are what breathe life into our program and drive the importance of what we do home for many people. When companies get involved with SFI, it means we’re able to continue work to make on-the-ground differences with logger training, conservation and community outreach. Additionally, it gives us a way to keep forests as forests, avoiding loss to conversion and development. To keep involvement with these programs, there must be a continuous demand for forest certification.

The packaging industry plays a large role in us being able to keep many of our partnerships running. Without their support, in addition to all the other users of certified forest products, not only would our forests suffer, but so would many of the programs we’re able to fund as a part of our program.

While forestry and the packaging industry have each made huge strides over the past two decades, there’s still a lot of work to be done. With only 10 percent of the world’s forests certified, the focus will always be on promoting responsible forestry on all lands – certified or uncertified. Additionally, we need more action to inform consumers and customers about forest certification and how it works in partnership with recycling. Recycling is important, but it, nor forest certification, can stand alone.

I had a great time talking with fellow speakers and attendees of the forum. With continued dialogue and continuous improvements, I can’t wait to see the leaps both sectors will make over the next 20 years.

For more coverage from the Sustainable Packaging Forum, check out this interview with Justmeans:

It’s fitting that the themes for our 15th Annual Conference, is Power of Partnerships.  The world of responsible forestry and certification is so immense there is not a lot one organization can do on its own. The conference is set to explore the many ways collaboration leads to improved forest management, education & outreach efforts and implementation of the SFI Standard.

If you take a look at our conference agenda you will see we have lined up local and international speakers who will talk about partnerships yielding benefits for the forest products marketplace, communities, First Nations, and government agencies throughout North America and globally. Keynote speaker Linda Coady, Distinguished Fellow, University of British Columbia and Vice-President of Sustainability, Vancouver Olympics Organizing Committee will talk about Certification, Corporate Social Responsibility and Sustainability – The Next Generation.  We’ll also be making some exciting announcements.

We will be posting video from conference speakers as well as pictures from the event on our Annual Conference webpage – so check it out if you are not able to join us in Vancouver and take part virtually.