{"id":18918,"date":"2013-08-15T16:55:45","date_gmt":"2013-08-15T16:55:45","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/162.217.168.59\/?p=18918"},"modified":"2023-03-22T14:24:29","modified_gmt":"2023-03-22T18:24:29","slug":"sfi-funds-community-based-programs-to-support-habitat-for-humanity-african-american-landowners-and-more","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/forests.org\/fr\/sfi-funds-community-based-programs-to-support-habitat-for-humanity-african-american-landowners-and-more\/","title":{"rendered":"SFI Funds Community-Based Programs to Support Habitat for Humanity, African-American Landowners and More"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u00a0WASHINGTON<\/strong> \u2013 The future of North America’s forests is decided by actions taken every day in communities across the U.S. and Canada. To foster such on-the-ground adoption of responsible forestry practices, the Sustainable Forestry Initiative\u00ae (SFI\u00ae) has awarded grants to seven community-based projects to educate youth and teachers, work with landowners, and support worthy community programs.<\/p>\n

The grants were awarded under the SFI Conservation and Community Partnership Grant Program for projects with community groups in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Minnesota and New Mexico. Through the involvement of partners and leveraging other donations, the total value of the seven projects announced today is more than $300,000 in combined cash and in-kind contributions.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe feel it is important that all landowners have information and resources to create management plans to maintain productive and healthy forests,\u201d said James W. Ford, Southeastern Director of the National Network of Forest Practitioners (NNFP). \u201cThe support from SFI helps us reach underserved landowners in the Southeast with information and support to make the most from their forest land.\u201d<\/p>\n

The focus of the NNFP project is to help transition minority landowners in counties with high African-American land ownership toward forest management and certification to increase the benefits derived from their woodlands and conserve environmental quality.<\/p>\n

\u201cThanks to SFI\u2019s support we were able to help build a home for a family in need, which strengthens the whole community,\u201d said Donna Gallaher of the Georgia SFI Implementation Committee. \u201cWe also produced a film showing the cycle of sustainable forestry from harvesting to consumer products that we are sharing in communities throughout the state – demonstrating why sustainable forestry matters and making sure Georgia has healthy, thriving forests for generations to come.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Georgia SFI Implementation Committee created a film to educate leaders and consumers statewide about the sustainable forestry cycle featuring a Macon County Habitat for Humanity home built with wood certified to the SFI Standard and highlighting everyday consumer goods and paper products used by families.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn 2010, SFI Inc. first invested $400,000 to create the Conservation and Community Partnerships Grant Program to foster partnerships and conservation research improving forest management in the United States and Canada, and responsible procurement globally,\u201d said Kathy Abusow, President & CEO of SFI Inc. \u201cWe are so pleased that in a few short years, by leveraging partner contributions, SFI has achieved a total investment of $4.8 million in conservation and community partnerships and research, supporting more than 40 grants with 150 partners across North America. All of these partnerships promote education related to thriving working forests and sustainable communities.\u201d<\/p>\n

The project grants are awarded to:<\/p>\n