Message from the President and CEO The SFI program’s bigger picture starts needed to manage their forestlands responsibly. We give with a strong certification standard, back through partnerships with Habitat for Humanity, and we go beyond it to improve forest 4-H and Aboriginal communities. We support activities to practices through conservation grants, advance research and strengthen community outreach community partnerships, logger training, through our SFI Implementation Committees, our and landowner outreach. No other third- program participants, and our comprehensive program. party forest certification program in North America matches this broad scope Our relationship with conservation groups has also evolved of sustainable forestry practices. over time. We have both come to realize that we can address mutual objectives by working together. Our SFI Everything we do is under the direction of an independent, Conservation and Community Partnerships Grant Program multi-disciplinary board, and we draw strength and is yielding benefits by building knowledge, strengthening expertise from countless partners who care about our global supply chains and showing landowners how they forests — from resource professionals, conservation can manage forests to enhance wildlife habitat. groups, companies of all sizes, government agencies, Aboriginal communities, scientists and unions. This is We appreciate that we, in turn, are part of a bigger picture why our program and its standard mesh so well with — third-party forest certification is just one element of North American values and interests. broader procurement policies and life cycle assessment. And it does not end at our borders. Although all SFI- Diverse groups were involved in the development of the certified lands are in the United States and Canada, we SFI standard more than 15 years ago, and they no doubt work with international partners to tackle global issues had high hopes about its influence on forest practices. such as illegal logging. They may never have expected the gradual, and significant, evolution to the multi-purpose non-profit program we International Year of Forests, 2011, is a good time to pause have today with an independent Board of Directors, on- and reflect on how much forests mean to our environment product labels and conservation research grants. Today, and to our communities. It is a good time to recognize that we stand as the world’s largest single forest certification while the SFI program has evolved and grown over time, standard – one that is globally recognized and accepted our focus will always be to advance responsible forestry — as supporting responsible forest management. and look for new and effective ways to accomplish this. Although the SFI program has achieved international When the goal is improving the welfare of the world’s respect, our roots will always be deep in North American forests and communities, no one organization can claim to communities — addressing their needs and gaining insight have all the answers or resources to achieve optimal results. from their knowledge. Our bigger picture includes 37 com- That’s why the SFI program keeps its eye on the bigger munity-based SFI Implementation Committees who train picture and is shaped by its many partnerships and loggers and participate in important community events. community collaboration. By sharing ideas, resources and They extend the reach of the SFI standard on the ground to enthusiasm, we can accomplish so much more in the forest, forests and to people across the United States and Canada in communities and in the marketplace.T — environmentally, socially, economically and spiritually — and offer residents easy access to present their views or ask questions about what’s happening in their back yards. We are entrusted with a responsibility we take seriously. We introduced certified sourcing so we could have an Kathy Abusow impact that goes beyond certified lands — we want all President and CEO forest landowners to have the knowledge and guidance Sustainable Forestry Initiative Inc. Sustainable Forestry Initiative 2011 Progress Report | 1 Quick Facts and Statistics The Sustainable Forestry Initiative® (SFI®) Inc. is an Program Statistics: (As of April 30, 2011) “Close to 2.4 million acres of independent, 501(c)(3) non-profit charitable organization 2010 statistics that demonstrate the The SFI program manages the largest single forest recognized and accepted by organizations and govern- Alabama’s forests are certified broad reach of the SFI program and certification standard in the world. ments internationally, and supported by conservation its partners, which deliver wide- to the SFI Standard, and I see ranging benefits on the ground. groups, community organizations and forest professionals. I Forest area certified in North America 183 million acres/74 million hectares 13% from 161 million acres/65 million hectares the benefits almost every day. More than 2,500 individuals and organizations are § Community Outreach at the start of 2010 helping the SFI program address the bigger picture — And SFI’s reach goes far Number of community-based meeting its requirements and/or supporting its efforts to I SFI chain-of-custody certificates 1,000 SFI Implementation Committees 37 24% from 807 at the start of 2010 beyond certified lands — it encourage and promote responsible forestry.T § Total number of members 948 I SFI chain-of-custody locations 2,483 addresses the reality that 80 36% from 1,831 at the start of 2010 Percentage of members representing “My advice for companies § percent of our 22.7 million SFI program participants 61% I Companies certified for responsible sourcing and that want to be SFI certified is associated labels 175 acres of Alabama’s forests are Percentage representing owned by more than 440,000 community partners 39% to make sure everything is in 2010 contribution to support local order before I arrive. I have non-industrial private activities such as education and training for loggers, and outreach to family no choice — if the SFI standard landowners.” forest owners $2.6 million requirements are not being — Linda Casey, State Forester, Alabama Contribution since 1995 $57.7 million met, and I see a major 2010 local contributions to Project Learning Tree1 $61,600 non-conformance, I won’t be issuing an SFI certificate.” Resource Training Number of resource and logging — Mike Ferrucci, NSF-ISR Forestry Program professionals trained in responsible Manager and Lead Auditor forestry through the SFI program or its recognition of other programs in 20102 5,584 Total trained since 1995 129,338 Research Total SFI program participants have invested in forest research activities in 2010 $81.4 million Amount contributed since 1995 $1.2 billion 1 Project Learning Tree is the American Forest Foundation’s multi-disciplinary environ- mental education program for educators and students 2 Provided by the Forest Resources Association 2 | Sustainable Forestry Initiative 2011 Progress Report Sustainable Forestry Initiative 2011 Progress Report | 3 A Strategic View No other third-party forest certification “Ensure the integrity of the SFI The SFI Program: Meeting North American Needs program in North America matches the SFI program’s broad perspective. Under the program is strong, grounded in The SFI program embraces the bigger picture more than any other third-party forest certification program in direction of an independent, multi-disciplinary board, the science and research, and based North America. No single certification standard covers as large a geographical area or has as broad a perspective. SFI program works with individuals and organizations that share its passion for sustainable forest management on conservation and community I SFI is the only forest certification program in management practices to protect water quality and responsible procurement. The SFI program addresses collaboration resulting in a pro- North America that requires participants to have attributed this to logger training and the SFI the bigger picture – one that includes logger training, provide in-kind support or funding for forest program. SFI program participants provide leader- conservation research, community partnerships and gram that is recognized globally research. Since 1995, this has led to an ship and share best practices to improve forest landowner outreach. Every action is based on integrity investment of $1.2 billion for research activities management on certified and uncertified lands. and invites partnerships that deliver value on the ground for supporting responsible forestry.” that improve forest health, productivity and and at each link of the supply chain. — SFI Inc. Strategic Objective sustainable management of forest resources. I The SFI program stands apart from other independent forest certification standards through I SFI is the only forest certification program in its unique fiber sourcing requirements, which STRATEGIC GOALS 2011 North America to support logger and forester address the fact that all forest landowners play a training through a grassroots network of SFI critical role in the long-term health and responsible Implementation Committees. Some U.S. states management of forests – regardless of whether conservation market recognized reporting consistent improvements in best they are certified. integrity + & community + outreach & = globally for collaboration public supporting awareness responsible forestry The SFI Inc. strategic objective is the outcome of three strategic goals,