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MAINE'S SIC RESTATES COMMITTMENT TO LOGGER TRAINING |
SFI CAMPAIGN TO BUILD GREEN CERTIFIED HABITAT HOME
Download Presentations from the Maine Green Forest Summit
With more than 90% of Maine covered by forests, it is no surprise that the citizens of Maine want to know that the people who own and work in the Maine woods are managing them with an eye toward keeping them productive for the present and sustained for future generations.
That’s where the Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) comes in. SFI is a program designed to ensure that forests in Maine and across the country are managed sustainably. The Program fosters continuous improvement in forest management by requiring forest professionals – including landowners, loggers, and mill owners – to commit to ongoing research, continuing professional education, and consistent communication with the general public concerning developments within the SFI Program.
The Sustainable Forestry Initiative Program was a response to the public’s obvious concern about the long-term sustainability of the country’s forest resources.
In practice, the SFI program involves the development and implementation of forest management standards that, in addition to requiring sustainable levels of forest harvesting, are dedicated to, among other things:
- the protection of water quality
- the management of wildlife habitat
- the protection of rare plants
- the conservation of biodiversity
- the application of science-based forestry and
- the protection of soil productivity
In broader terms, the five underlying principles of SFI are to:
- Meet the needs of the present without compromising the needs of future generations.
- Promote environmentally and economically responsible practices.
- Improve forest health and productivity.
- Manage our forests to protect their special qualities.
- Continuously improve forest management and measure progress.
Administered by an independent Sustainable Forestry Board comprised of experts from the conservation community, the broader forestry community, and AF & PA members, SFI has certified more than 6 million Maine acres as being sustainably managed forests. In fact, Maine has the highest percentage of certified forestland of any state in the country.
