UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA RESEARCH FOUNDATION

Brainstorming Implementation of the New SFI Urban and Community Forest Sustainability Standard

Increase Certification to the New SFI Urban and Community Forest Sustainability Standard

Why this Project Matters

The new SFI Urban and Community Forest Sustainability Standard is the world’s first forest standard for communities. Promoting nature-based solutions and resilience to climate change, the standard includes 16 objectives for urban and community forest certification. The standard applies to cities and towns of all sizes, anywhere in the world, and is also designed for corporate, hospital, and university campuses. This project is focused on maximizing the standard’s potential to enhance sustainability through communication and implementation strategies.

How This Project Will Help Spread Certification With the SFI Urban and Community Forest Sustainability Standard

This project will deliver a two-day workshop designed to increase certification to the SFI Urban and Community Forest Sustainability Standard. Workshop attendees will include a range of experienced people interested in urban forestry, as well as underrepresented groups and students. SFI’s standard development process already includes several opportunities for public input, including public comment periods and webinars. This project creates an additional opportunity in the form of a facilitated meeting to brainstorm communication and implementation strategies.

Reviewing the standard components will lead to a valuable discussion about the implementation and management of the standard. The discussion will inform communications and education regarding applying the standard across communities. One of the facilitators of the meeting, Dr. Parag Kadam, a standards auditor for almost five years, intimately understands SFI standards. Kristen Morales, Communications Director at the University of Georgia’s Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, will be a primary facilitator.

SFI’s Contribution

The SFI Community Grant Program is supporting this project. SFI will share the project’s findings through its network to amplify its impact. SFI will also provide venues for presenting the project’s final report.

Partners

• Project lead: University of Georgia Research Foundation
• Sustainable Forestry Initiative
• Georgia SFI Implementation Committee
• International Society of Arboriculture

Related Information

SFI Urban and Community Forest Sustainability Standard

Georgia Forestry Foundation 2023 Grant

Georgia SFI Implementation 2023 Grant

University Of Georgia: Quantifying Impacts of SFI’s Fiber Sourcing Standards in Georgia

University Of Georgia: Examining the Role of Forest Certification in Advancing Conservation Outcomes in the U.S. Southeast

Georgia SFI Implementation Committee Wins Award for Logger Training, Water Quality, and Community Collaboration

About University of Georgia Research Foundation

The University of Georgia Research Foundation, Inc. (UGARF) performs two primary functions in support of research at the University of Georgia (UGA). UGARF is the named party to sponsored research agreements for projects to be performed at UGA. UGARF also owns the patents and other intellectual property developed at UGA. Through Innovation Gateway, UGARF protects, markets, and licenses its intellectual property portfolio throughout Georgia and the US and across the globe. Learn more.