SFI BLOG

As we look forward to the holidays and the New Year, it is my pleasure to share with you some of SFI’s many successes over the past 12 months as we continued to advance sustainability and nature-positive outcomes in collaboration with our impressive network.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) recently determined that populations of the gopher tortoise in the southeastern United States are stable or expanding in most of its range and is no longer a candidate for listing as threatened under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). Both private and public forestlands certified to the Sustainable Forestry Initiative® (SFI) are playing a key role in the recovery of the tortoise.

September 26–30, 2022 is Truth and Reconciliation Week, and September 30 is the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. It is also Orange Shirt Day, 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.

A recent grant to the Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) is bearing fruit in West Virginia. Or rather, birds. With the aid of the grant, SFI is working with federal, state, private, university, and non-governmental organizations with a shared goal of researching best practices that benefit bird species, especially three at-risk bird species: the golden-winged warbler, the cerulean warbler, and the wood thrush.

The theme of this year’s National Forest Week (September 18–24, 2022), “Canada’s Forests: Solutions for a Changing Climate,” offers a timely reminder of the importance of trees and forests to the nation and the world. At the Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI), we and our network of partners know forests play a critical role in addressing climate change and storing carbon.

The annual conference’s theme was Collaborating for Communities and Forests, so it’s fitting that the conference also played host to its first SFI Conference Green Mentor cohort. Nineteen young adults were selected from across North America to participate in this four-month mentorship opportunity.

Consumer preferences for paper packaging are strengthening the circular economy, said Michael P. Doss, president and CEO of Graphic Packaging International, in his keynote address at the 2022 SFI Annual Conference in June.

Randy Moore, Chief of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service, discusses partnering with SFI on climate change, wildfire risk, and sustaining healthy, resilient landscapes for generations to come.

There is no question that wildfires in the western US are larger and more intense than in recorded history. As of August 1 this year, 60,000 wildfires have burned more than 7.1 million acres in the US, according to the National Interagency Fire Center—the vast majority in the West. These figures far exceed the 10-year, to-date average of 33,906 fires and 3.55 million acres. And there is no argument that this trend is likely to continue due to climate change, drought, a decline in forest health, overstocking of stands, and other factors.

Over 350 people from the SFI and PLT networks gathered for a week filled with learning and discussion opportunities on the most pressing issues and challenges facing people and the planet, and how forests and environmental education can provide solutions.

Jacob Handel, who recently joined SFI as Senior Director, Indigenous Relations, brings a wealth of knowledge and experience in engaging with Indigenous people and groups to the Indigenous Relations Team. Handel has more than 20 years of experience in the environmental field, Indigenous and stakeholder engagement, strategy development, regulatory processes, and negotiation. Prior to joining SFI, he was an Aboriginal Affairs Advisor at a leading Canadian paper and forest products manufacturing company. His past experience also includes working for governments, the energy sector, and nonprofits.