{"id":18648,"date":"2011-12-08T17:51:45","date_gmt":"2011-12-08T17:51:45","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/162.217.168.59\/?p=18648"},"modified":"2023-03-22T16:24:31","modified_gmt":"2023-03-22T20:24:31","slug":"maine-executive-order-puts-forest-certification-on-equal-footing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/forests.org\/fr\/maine-executive-order-puts-forest-certification-on-equal-footing\/","title":{"rendered":"Maine Executive Order Puts Forest Certification on Equal Footing"},"content":{"rendered":"

WASHINGTON, DC<\/strong> \u2013 Maine Governor Paul LePage signed an executive order today directing that \u201cany new or expanded state buildings shall incorporate \u2018Green Building\u2019 standards that give certification credits equally to forest products grown, manufactured, and certified under the Sustainable Forestry Initiative Standard, Forest Stewardship Council, American Tree Farm System, and Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification systems.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThis policy is great news for North American communities and shows that the Governor and people of Maine are true leaders by being the first jurisdiction in North America to take this important position,\u201d said Kathy Abusow, president and CEO of the Sustainable Forestry Initiative\u00ae Inc. (SFI Inc.) \u201cInclusive and leading programs such as ANSI\/GBI 01-2010: Green Building Assessment Protocol for Commercial Buildings and the ANSI\/ICC 700-2008: National Green Building Standard for residential construction would meet the requirements set out for state construction in Maine. However, green building rating tools like the US Green Building Council\u2019s LEED rating tools that do not recognize forest certification equally would not meet the requirements of this executive order, in our opinion.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Maine Executive Order comes after 100 Members of Congress and Governors, and over 6,000 individuals around the world, encouraged the USGBC to reward wood from North American forests by equally recognizing SFI, ATFS, CSA, PEFC and FSC in their LEED rating system. Currently, the LEED rating tool fails to recognize nearly three-quarters of North America’s certified forests, often leaving builders to give preference to FSC wood offshore over SFI certified wood in North America. Maine\u2019s forest-products industry has an enormous impact on the state\u2019s economy. It directly and indirectly supports 55,000 jobs, annually creates more than $3 billion in earning and contributes $4.3 billion annually to Maine gross domestic product.<\/p>\n

In a news release<\/a> announcing the new executive order, Governor LePage stated \u201cWe believe that by supporting the full range of forest certification programs, we are advancing Maine\u2019s forest industry and the interests of our forest landowners in local, national, and global competition for market share\u2026 We are also protecting our valuable natural resources and traditional outdoor heritage.\u201d More than seven million acres\/ 2.8 million hectares are certified to the SFI Standard in Maine.<\/p>\n

Maine\u2019s announcement is one of a recent string of decisions by US agencies and organizations that reinforce SFI\u2019s growing recognition and an increasing trend to recognize the value of all forest certification programs equally. Recently the US Departments of Agriculture and Education, and the International Green Construction Code (IgCC) have all recognized SFI and other credible certification standards.<\/p>\n

\u201cWith a 2012 version of LEED currently undergoing development, these recent announcements provide a timely and powerful incentive for the USGBC to recognize all forest certification standards equally,\u201d said Abusow.<\/p>\n

The USGBC in June released Pilot Credit 43 which recognizes all forest certification standards but is limited to non-structural materials and is only a pilot. Builders, architects and others who appreciate the value of recognizing multiple forest certification standards are encouraged to post comments about Pilot Credit 43 on the LEED user site<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis executive order supports Maine\u2019s environmental, social and economic goals and values,\u201d said SIC Coordinator Pat Sirois. The Maine SFI Implementation Committee (SIC), comprising SFI Program Participants and community interests, has played a key role in the growth and recognition of certification in the state.<\/p>\n

The Maine SIC is one of 37 community-based committees that engage in important initiatives such as logger training, landowner outreach and conservation and community projects. Government officials are strongly represented on SICs, as well as on SFI\u2019s Board of Directors and External Review Panel. More information about SFI\u2019s collaboration with government agencies can be found online.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

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