{"id":25111,"date":"2018-10-17T01:56:22","date_gmt":"2018-10-17T01:56:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sfiprogram.org\/?p=25111"},"modified":"2023-03-22T12:34:11","modified_gmt":"2023-03-22T16:34:11","slug":"bettina-ring-receives-sfi-presidents-award","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/forests.org\/fr\/bettina-ring-receives-sfi-presidents-award\/","title":{"rendered":"Bettina Ring Receives SFI President\u2019s Award"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Westminster, CO<\/strong> \u2014 The Sustainable Forestry Initiative Inc. (SFI) announced the 2018 SFI President\u2019sAward at the SFI Annual Conference today. Bettina Ring, Virginia Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry and an SFI board member, is this year\u2019s winner. Ring is being recognized for her commitment to encouraging diversity in the forest sector and for her leadership in advancing sustainable forestry.<\/p>\n

As a senior executive, Ring inspires other women to take on leadership roles. She is well known for promoting diversity in the forest sector. Through the National Association of State Foresters (NASF) and SFI, Ring has championed the role of women for years.<\/p>\n

\u201cI have always felt it is important that our organizations reflect the people in the communities we serve,\u201d said Virginia\u2019s Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry Bettina Ring. \u201cFocusing on diversity andinclusiveness is a critical step to ensure that we create healthy forests, healthy people and healthy communities for all.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ring is the first woman to be appointed Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry in Virginia. She oversees two agencies along with the Department of Forestry, which alone is worth $21 billion to Virginia\u2019seconomy. Ring was appointed to Governor Ralph Northam\u2019s Cabinet in January. In October, she added to her responsibilities with an appointment to Governor Ralph Northam\u2019s Conservation Cabinet emphasizing the important role that the agriculture and forestry industries play in conservation and environmental stewardship in the Commonwealth of Virginia.<\/p>\n

\u201cBettina\u2019s leadership has always helped advance sustainability and diversity in the forest sector. Today,I\u2019m thrilled to say her decision to support certification for Virginia\u2019s state forests means that all 68,000acres of Virginia\u2019s state forests are now certified to the SFI Forest Management Standard,\u201d said KathyAbusow, President and CEO of SFI Inc.<\/p>\n

The Virginia Department of Forestry sought certification through the SFI Forest Partners\u00ae Program. The program works to develop innovative approaches to group and coordinated certification for medium- to large-forest ownerships and smaller and medium-sized mills.<\/p>\n

Four market leaders\u2014Meredith (formerly Time Inc.), National Geographic, Macmillan Publishers, and Pearson\u2014are SFI Founding Forest Partners\u00ae. Together, they are investing in the future of our forests by making multi-year commitments to increase the source of certified forest products. Hearst Enterprises and Boy Scouts of America also partner with the program.<\/p>\n

Ring\u2019s leadership is also supporting SFI\u2019s efforts to encourage diversity in the forest sector. A Tree, Is A Tree, Is A Tree 101<\/a>, a project supported by SFI and led by the Black Family Land Trust, is engaging African Americans in Southside Virginia to ensure their family forests can create an income stream and preserve the important heritage of African American land ownership.<\/p>\n

Prior to becoming Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry, Ring was Virginia’s State Forester.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

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