NEWS RELEASES

SFI welcomed two new officers and one new member to its Board of Directors: Mark Rodgers as Board Chair, Guy Gleysteen as Vice Chair, and Laura Downey as a new member in the social chamber.

SFI and Habitat for Humanity Greater Ottawa (Habitat GO) are joining forces for a “Women in Wood” Build Day to help build homes alongside Ottawa families in need of affordable housing. The second-ever “Women in Wood” Build Day will take place at Habitat GO’s largest build to date, Leacross Landing, which consists of 16 townhomes being built in Orléans at the corner of Jeanne d’Arc Blvd. and Fortune Drive. Phase 1, involving four townhomes, will be completed in 2017, with the other homes finished over the next two years.

SFI announced today the opening of its annual request for proposals (RFP) for the SFI Conservation and Community Partnerships Grant Program.

SFI and the American Forest Foundation (AFF) announced today that SFI has become the new home of PLT.

SFI Fiber Sourcing Standard is now recognized by the PEFC as a tool that meets PEFC requirements for the avoidance of controversial sources in the PEFC Chain of Custody standard. “PEFC is pleased to support initiatives of its members that are unique and innovative such as the SFI Fiber Sourcing Standard, which provides an effective mechanism to demonstrate compliance with PEFC Chain of Custody requirements concerning controversial sources at a global level, while promoting the responsible procurement of wood fibre for SFI manufacturing facilities across the USA and Canada,” said Ben Gunneberg, CEO and Secretary General of PEFC International, in a PEFC blog.

SFI announced today that SmartLam, LLC, is the first U.S. manufacturer of cross-laminated timber (CLT) to be certified to the SFI 2015-2021 Chain-of-Custody Standard. SmartLam manufactures CLT for a variety of applications, including floor, roof and wall systems. SFI’s Chain-of-Custody Standard helps companies address the growing demand from governments, customers, and consumers for responsibly sourced forest products.

SFI announced 11 community grants today that will advance the quality of life in communities across North America.

Ninety-two secondary manufacturers of the WPMA simultaneously earned certification to the SFI 2015-2021 COC Standard, making this the largest single group to certify to the SFI COC Standard at once.

Using wood in innovative and beautiful ways to bring new life to the Lakeside at Black Butte Ranch — an iconic Oregon resort community near Sisters, Oregon — has earned Portland-based architects Hacker an award from the Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI).

SFI announced five conservation grants today.

The Ottawa 2017 Bureau and Mayor Jim Watson, in collaboration with lead partner CIBC, are pleased to welcome SFI as a partner for Canada’s 150th birthday celebrations in the nation’s capital.  A sustainability leader dedicated to the future of our forests, SFI promotes the responsible procurement of forest products. The organization has arranged for the donation of responsibly sourced forest products to build the Red Bull Crashed Ice track, and other portions of the venue. 

The LDWF has certified approximately 490,000 acres of state-owned WMA forestland through the SFI 2015-2021 Forest Management Standard. “This is another method whereby LDWF can show that we’re using proper stewardship managing the property entrusted to us by the citizens of Louisiana,’’ LDWF Secretary Jack Montoucet said. “Thanks to the SFI Forest Partners Program, the public can remain confident that our forested WMA land is managed in line with the high standards set by SFI. They can also be assured that these forests will remain healthy and productive for generations to come.’’

SFI is pleased to announce that Karla Guyn, CEO of Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC) has joined the SFI Board of Directors.

Slimy, slithery creatures take centre stage at Halloween, but they fascinate children all year round. Kids are onto something because these animals are important to the health and biodiversity of Canada’s forests.

SFI convened researchers, conservationists, academics and government officials from across North America this week for the first full-scale meeting of the SFI Sounding Board.