Sustainable Forestry Initiative
Encyclopedia
The Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) is a 'forest certification standard' and program of SFI Inc., a non-profit organization. The Sustainable Forestry Initiative is the world’s largest single forest certification standard by area.
The SFI program was launched in 1994 by the American Forest and Paper Association. It became more independent in 2007 as a separate charity, SFI Inc.
In 2005, the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC), which itself is the world's largest forest certifications system, recognized the SFI standard.
The SFI program only certifies lands in the United States and Canada, and program participants must comply with all applicable laws. For sources outside of North America without effective laws, participants must avoid illegal or other controversial sources. The SFI program supports activities by international experts to find ways to address the problem of illegal logging and is a member of the international, multi-stakeholder Forest Legality Alliance.
SFI has certified more than 181 million acres (732,481.7 km²) to its standard in the United States
and Canada
. At the end of October 2010, SFI had 959 chain-of-custody certifications at 2,339 locations. According to the United Nations
, SFI was the fastest growing organization for chain of custody certifications in 2008.
The Board of Directors that governs the SFI program has three chambers that recognize economic, environmental and social sectors equally. Directors include representatives of environmental, conservation, professional and academic groups, independent professional loggers, family forest owners, public officials, labor and the forest products industry.
Sustainable Forestry Initiative certifies companies such as Sierra Pacific Industries and Green Diamond Resource Company. Both of these companies practice clearcutting, under the name of "even-aged management" and several other euphemisms.
Dovetail Partners Inc., in its 2010 Forest Certification: A Status Report, states: "the previous differences between forest certification
programs are much less distinct ... each program generally has the same structural programmatic requirements, although the required content and level of detail
provided by each may vary considerably."
SFI is generally considered less stringent than that of the Forest Stewardship Council
(FSC). For example, SFI allows more tree farming and does not require conservation plans or consultation with local and indigenous stakeholders (except for public lands).
SFI is less highly rated than FSC for example by Consumer Reports “Greener Choices”, and Green America. Others rate SFI/PEFC and FSC equally: TerraChoice (part of Underwriters Laboratories Global Network) in its 2010 Sins of Greenwashing report, like its 2009 one, counts the SFI/PEFC and FSC in its second-tier list of "legitimate" environmental standards and certifications.; as does Environment Canada's EcoLogo.
A National Association of State Foresters forest certification policy statement passed by resolution in 2008 states: "While in different manners, the ATFS (American Tree Farm System), FSC (Forest Stewardship Council), and SFI systems include the fundamental elements of credibility and make positive contributions to forest sustainability. . . . No certification program can credibly claim to be ‘best’, and no certification program that promotes itself as the only certification option can maintain credibility."
(LEED) rating system of the USGBC. Only Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) has been acceptable for “environmentally responsible forest management” in LEED. As a protest over the 2010 Forest Certification benchmark balloting by USGBC members, which in effect rejected SFI, SFI even encouraged LEED projects to skip the certified wood credit and use SFI wood instead to show their “pride and support for North American Forests".
Other green building
tools, including two ANSI-approved rating systems in the United States – ANSI-ICC 700-2008: National Green Building Standard and ANSI/GBI 01-2010: Green Building Assessment Protocol for Commercial Buildings (formerly Green Globes U.S.) – Green Globes and Built Green Canada do recognize wood products certified by credible certification programs, as well as by SFI.
, and the Conservation Fund (which serves on its Board).
Unlike SFI, the FSC included environmental groups among its founders such as Greenpeace
. The National Wildlife Federation
and World Wide Fund for Nature
(WWF) currently serve on the FSC Board. The Sierra Club
only endorses FSC.
The FTC compliant accuses SFI Inc. of misleading consumers with deceptive marketing practices. The complaint cites various aspects of SFI’s marketing, including its claim that it is an “independent” not-for-profit organization, its dependence on the timber industry for funding, and the vagueness of SFI’s environmental standards, which allow SFI-certified landowners to be certified merely because the landowner is complying with state environmental regulations. The complaint cites SFI’s certification as an example of greenwash
.
The SFI program was launched in 1994 by the American Forest and Paper Association. It became more independent in 2007 as a separate charity, SFI Inc.
In 2005, the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC), which itself is the world's largest forest certifications system, recognized the SFI standard.
SFI program
The SFI standard covers key values such as protection of biodiversity, species at risk and wildlife habitat; sustainable harvest levels; protection of water quality; and prompt regeneration. A new SFI 2010-2014 Standard, developed through an open review process, took effect on Jan. 1, 2010. All SFI certifications require independent, third-party audits and are performed by internationally accredited certification bodies.The SFI program only certifies lands in the United States and Canada, and program participants must comply with all applicable laws. For sources outside of North America without effective laws, participants must avoid illegal or other controversial sources. The SFI program supports activities by international experts to find ways to address the problem of illegal logging and is a member of the international, multi-stakeholder Forest Legality Alliance.
SFI has certified more than 181 million acres (732,481.7 km²) to its standard in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. At the end of October 2010, SFI had 959 chain-of-custody certifications at 2,339 locations. According to the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
, SFI was the fastest growing organization for chain of custody certifications in 2008.
The Board of Directors that governs the SFI program has three chambers that recognize economic, environmental and social sectors equally. Directors include representatives of environmental, conservation, professional and academic groups, independent professional loggers, family forest owners, public officials, labor and the forest products industry.
Sustainable Forestry Initiative certifies companies such as Sierra Pacific Industries and Green Diamond Resource Company. Both of these companies practice clearcutting, under the name of "even-aged management" and several other euphemisms.
Third-party Reviews of the SFI Certification
The United Nations Economic Commission for Europe/Food and Agriculture Organization, in its 2009-2010 Forest products Annual Review, says: "Over the years, many of the issues that previously divided the (certification) systems have become much less distinct. The largest certification systems now generally have the same structural programmatic requirements."Dovetail Partners Inc., in its 2010 Forest Certification: A Status Report, states: "the previous differences between forest certification
programs are much less distinct ... each program generally has the same structural programmatic requirements, although the required content and level of detail
provided by each may vary considerably."
SFI is generally considered less stringent than that of the Forest Stewardship Council
Forest Stewardship Council
The Forest Stewardship Council is an international not-for-profit, multi-stakeholder organization established in 1993 to promote responsible management of the world’s forests. Its main tools for achieving this are standard setting, independent certification and labeling of forest products...
(FSC). For example, SFI allows more tree farming and does not require conservation plans or consultation with local and indigenous stakeholders (except for public lands).
SFI is less highly rated than FSC for example by Consumer Reports “Greener Choices”, and Green America. Others rate SFI/PEFC and FSC equally: TerraChoice (part of Underwriters Laboratories Global Network) in its 2010 Sins of Greenwashing report, like its 2009 one, counts the SFI/PEFC and FSC in its second-tier list of "legitimate" environmental standards and certifications.; as does Environment Canada's EcoLogo.
A National Association of State Foresters forest certification policy statement passed by resolution in 2008 states: "While in different manners, the ATFS (American Tree Farm System), FSC (Forest Stewardship Council), and SFI systems include the fundamental elements of credibility and make positive contributions to forest sustainability. . . . No certification program can credibly claim to be ‘best’, and no certification program that promotes itself as the only certification option can maintain credibility."
Green building standard support
Despite vigorous efforts to be included, SFI is not accepted by the Leadership in Energy and Environmental DesignLeadership in Energy and Environmental Design
Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design consists of a suite of rating systems for the design, construction and operation of high performance green buildings, homes and neighborhoods....
(LEED) rating system of the USGBC. Only Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) has been acceptable for “environmentally responsible forest management” in LEED. As a protest over the 2010 Forest Certification benchmark balloting by USGBC members, which in effect rejected SFI, SFI even encouraged LEED projects to skip the certified wood credit and use SFI wood instead to show their “pride and support for North American Forests".
Other green building
Green building
Green building refers to a structure and using process that is environmentally responsible and resource-efficient throughout a building's life-cycle: from siting to design, construction, operation, maintenance, renovation, and demolition...
tools, including two ANSI-approved rating systems in the United States – ANSI-ICC 700-2008: National Green Building Standard and ANSI/GBI 01-2010: Green Building Assessment Protocol for Commercial Buildings (formerly Green Globes U.S.) – Green Globes and Built Green Canada do recognize wood products certified by credible certification programs, as well as by SFI.
Environmental group support
The SFI Program is supported by conservation groups such as Conservation International, American Bird Conservancy, Ducks UnlimitedDucks Unlimited
Ducks Unlimited is an international non-profit organization dedicated to the conservation of wetlands and associated upland habitats for waterfowl, other wildlife, and people. It currently has approximately 780,000 members, mostly in the United States and Canada.-Introduction:Ducks Unlimited was...
, and the Conservation Fund (which serves on its Board).
Unlike SFI, the FSC included environmental groups among its founders such as Greenpeace
Greenpeace
Greenpeace is a non-governmental environmental organization with offices in over forty countries and with an international coordinating body in Amsterdam, The Netherlands...
. The National Wildlife Federation
National Wildlife Federation
The National Wildlife Federation is the United States' largest private, nonprofit conservation education and advocacy organization, with over four million members and supporters, and 48 state and territorial affiliated organizations...
and World Wide Fund for Nature
World Wide Fund for Nature
The World Wide Fund for Nature is an international non-governmental organization working on issues regarding the conservation, research and restoration of the environment, formerly named the World Wildlife Fund, which remains its official name in Canada and the United States...
(WWF) currently serve on the FSC Board. The Sierra Club
Sierra Club
The Sierra Club is the oldest, largest, and most influential grassroots environmental organization in the United States. It was founded on May 28, 1892, in San Francisco, California, by the conservationist and preservationist John Muir, who became its first president...
only endorses FSC.
Marketing practices
On September 9, 2009 the Washington State Forest Law Center, on behalf of the environmental protection group ForestEthics, filed complaints against SFI Inc. with the Federal Trade Commission and the Internal Revenue Service.The FTC compliant accuses SFI Inc. of misleading consumers with deceptive marketing practices. The complaint cites various aspects of SFI’s marketing, including its claim that it is an “independent” not-for-profit organization, its dependence on the timber industry for funding, and the vagueness of SFI’s environmental standards, which allow SFI-certified landowners to be certified merely because the landowner is complying with state environmental regulations. The complaint cites SFI’s certification as an example of greenwash
Greenwash
Greenwashing , or "green sheen", is a form of spin in which green PR or green marketing is deceptively used to promote the perception that a company's policies or products are environmentally friendly.-Usage:...
.
Conflict of interest
The complaint filed with the IRS requests an examination of SFI Inc.’s non-profit status, based on the fact that SFI benefits the private interests of its corporate landowners and not the public interest, as well as the fact that SFI draws more than 80% of its funding from the wood and paper industry. The complaint asserts that in serving the private interests of wood and paper companies that want a ‘green’ image, SFI is inappropriately granted a nonprofit status reserved for public charities.The Sierra Club Formal Complaint
The Sierra Club has lodged a formal complaint with the SFI itself, alleging that the timber company Weyerhaeuser engaged in risky and irresponsible logging on steep slopes that led to 1,259 landslides in 2007 on SFI-certified Weyerhaeuser lands in Washington state. Challenging SFI to back up its claims of 'independence' and 'rigorous audits', the Sierra Club requests in its complaints that Weyerhaeuser's SFI certification be revoked.See also
- Certified woodCertified woodCertified wood and paper products come from responsibly managed forests – as defined by a particular standard. With third-party forest certification, an independent organization develops standards of good forest management, and independent auditors issue certificates to forest operations that...
- Sustainable forest managementSustainable forest managementSustainable forest management is the management of forests according to the principles of sustainable development. Sustainable forest management uses very broad social, economic and environmental goals...