SFI BLOG

At the end of September, Canada commemorates Truth and Reconciliation Week 2024, culminating in the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation and Orange Shirt Day on September 30. Orange Shirt Day is an initiative started by residential school survivor Phyllis Webstad, Northern Secwepemc (Shuswap) from the Stswecem’c Xgat’tem First Nation, to raise awareness of residential schools and spread the message that every child matters.

With recent headlines, it’s not as often one hears the words “good” and “fire” used together in a sentence. Indeed, communities across North America are grappling with more frequent and destructive wildfires. It can be difficult to see through the smoke and understand that sometimes fire can be beneficial. Fire presents both challenges and opportunities across American and Canadian forests.

I’ve always enjoyed helping people connect with nature and natural resources, whether that’s sharing about the Sustainable Forestry Initiative’s (SFI) conservation work, quizzing friends about which critter is making a noise in the middle of the night, or telling someone not to eat the pretty red berry they found on a hike (seriously, don’t eat it). Anytime anyone asks, and the countless times no one does, I love explaining to my friends what blue crabs are and how to catch them. Although this has been my designated role for as long as I can remember, the rise of artificial intelligence, or AI, has changed the landscape.

North American forests play a vital role in the fight against climate change. These vast ecosystems act as carbon sinks, absorbing significant amounts of atmospheric CO2. Ensuring the long-term health and sustainability of these forests requires closing the gap between the latest forest-climate research and ongoing efforts to interpret and implement climate-smart forest management practices.

Embarking on a green career journey is a unique and deeply fulfilling experience. For me, it all began in my childhood, when my love for nature was nurtured by my horticulturist father. My outdoor adventures, from annual birthday trips to the arboretum to nature walks at school, deepened a profound connection to the natural world. I didn’t know it then, but these experiences and countless hours spent climbing trees and helping my dad landscape shaped my path toward my current green career.

When I walk into a room, I can’t help but scan my surroundings to appreciate how many forest products are on display in various forms around us. From furniture to structural beams and decorative trim, seeing wood used in so many different and practical ways always gives me joy.

More than 450 people joined us at the 2024 SFI Annual Conference. Together, we learned from leading voices in the forest and conservation sector, we engaged the next generation of forest leaders, and we charted a sustainable path forward by exploring innovative solutions to conserve, sustainably manage, and restore “Forests for the Future.”

On the traditional Mi’kmaq territory of the Qalipu First Nation, near Corner Brook, Newfoundland, a new collaborative research project will study pollinator and plant diversity through a 35-year view of managed boreal forest. Undertaken by the Memorial University of Newfoundland and supported by the Sustainable Forestry Initiative, the project will employ a combination of field surveys, flight intercept traps, time-lapse cameras, and data loggers to capture a comprehensive snapshot of plants and associated pollinators across a series of managed forests.

When the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Forest Service announced a historic $1.5 billion investment in urban forests, Scott Altenhoff, Manager of Urban & Community Forestry for Oregon’s Department of Forestry, recognized a key opportunity for state foresters to take a step back and consider a whole-system approach to making the work of urban forestry more sustainable.

The momentum in late March felt palpable for mass timber when I joined over 3,000 people on the annual pilgrimage to Portland, Oregon, for the International Mass Timber Conference. The buzz began even before visitors reached the convention when travelers arrived at the Portland airport, straining for a glimpse of the much-awaited mass timber renovation.

For decades, urban foresters have played a vital role in maximizing the economic, environmental, and social benefits provided by city trees and green spaces. However, the work has taken on even greater profile and urgency in recent years amid the climate crisis and environmental justice concerns in the U.S. and abroad.

The trees where we live provide so much for our communities. Their shade cools us in summer. Trees purify the air we breathe. Birds build nests in city trees and bring us joy with their song. Our children play among trees in parks. When we walk in our urban green spaces, our stress, heart rate, and blood pressure go down. Researchers are even interested in the positive relationship between students being around trees and succeeding at school.

While many in the sector know the diversity of forest-focused career opportunities available, it can be difficult to find age-appropriate and scientifically sound programs for students considering pursuing a green career pathway. To support youth in this path, Project Learning Tree (PLT) Canada offers a Specialist High Skills Major (SHSM) certification for high school students interested in pursuing a career in the forest sector.