OTTAWA and WASHINGTON, March 21, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Sustainable Forestry Initiative Inc. (SFI) announced five conservation grants today that will build on SFI’s commitment to conservation and increase our knowledge about the conservation benefits associated with forests influenced by the SFI Forest Management Standard and SFI Fiber Sourcing Standard. These grants feature collaboration between SFI and a robust group of partners and experts from 52 organizations to advance SFI’s innovative Conservation Impact Project in the United States and Canada.
This year’s grants focus on research partnerships ranging from how bird habitats can serve as a metric for broader ecosystem health to the contributory value of certified forests to water and related ecosystem services. One project will build understanding of how to maintain biodiversity values in forests managed in accordance with traditional Indigenous values.
Managed Forests for Birds is examining the needs of “at risk” bird species, such as the Swallow-tailed Kite, Brown-headed Nuthatch, Wood Thrush, Swainson’s Warbler, and Prairie Warbler, to help build understanding of their habitat and the benefits of sustainable forest management. This project, led by the American Bird Conservancy (ABC), uses bird conservation science developed across five pilot areas on forests certified to SFI in the U.S. Southeast to aid landowners in developing practices that will reverse the decline of critical species.
Operationalizing Conservation Value through Multi-Species Evaluation on Lands Certified to SFI, led by the Boreal Avian Modelling Project (BAM), is examining the contribution of managed forest landscapes to regional bird diversity. This project is in collaboration with ABC and, together with Managed Forests for Birds, it will help forest managers understand how forest management decisions can benefit bird communities at a continental scale.
Exploring the Financial Value of Ecosystem Services on Lands Certified to SFI is examining the potential financial value of ecosystem services in a California forest. Led by Coalitions & Collaboratives, Inc. the project will help private forest owners define values relative to carbon sequestration and water, and manage their lands for greater ecological contributions.
Measuring the Conservation Value of Forests Certified to SFI in Bi-national Pilot Areas of the U.S. and Canada, led by NatureServe, is quantifying biodiversity values at scale through data sharing and partnership with the largest private landowners in Canada and the U.S. This project builds on ground-breaking work to quantify biodiversity values and will ultimately enable forest managers and conservationists to optimize landscape conditions in the future.
Studying Culturally Significant Plant Regeneration Post-Harvest in the Splatsin Territory will provide data on how culturally important plants regenerate after forest management activities, such as harvests. Understanding and maintaining biodiversity in the forest, while also respecting culturally significant plants, is critical for both the project leader, Splatsin Indian Band, and for SFI Program Participants across Canada and the U.S.
“These conservation grants represent the sharpening of SFI’s work toward understanding the contributory value of sustainable forest management relative to critical conservation attributes such as biodiversity and climate change,” said Paul Trianosky, Chief Conservation Officer at SFI. “We believe that the diverse range of partners engaging with SFI on this important work will help ensure its credibility and value.”
“Robust, actionable science co-produced with on-the-ground operators, such as that funded by SFI’s conservation and community partnerships grants, can help achieve meaningful conservation gains. This year, our project builds on past work by us and the American Bird Conservancy to lay the groundwork for continent-wide impact for SFI bird conservation efforts,” said Nicole Barker, Coordinating Scientist with the Boreal Avian Modelling Project.
SFI conservation grants are awarded annually through the SFI Conservation and Community Partnerships Grant Program, which is dedicated to improving forest conservation and strengthening the communities that depend on forests.
About the Sustainable Forestry Initiative® Inc. (SFI). SFI® Inc. is a sustainability leader that stands for future forests. We are an independent, non-profit organization that provides supply chain assurances, delivers conservation leadership, and supports environmental education and community engagement. SFI works with the forest sector, brand owners, conservation groups, resource professionals, landowners, educators, local communities, Indigenous peoples, governments, and universities. SFI standards and on-product labels help consumers make responsible purchasing decisions. Additionally, we oversee the SFI Forest Partners® Program, which aims to increase supply of certified forest products, the SFI Conservation and Community Partnerships Grant Program, which funds research and community building, and Project Learning Tree®, which educates teachers and youth about forests and the environment. SFI Inc. is governed by an independent three chamber board of directors representing environmental, social, and economic sectors equally. SFI believes caring for forests improves everyone’s quality of life. Learn more.
About conservation at SFI. SFI Inc. is the only forest certification program in North America that requires participants to support research to improve forest health, conservation understanding, productivity and sustainable management of forest resources. Since 1995, SFI Program Participants have invested more than $1.6 billion in forest research activities. In 2018, SFI Program Participants engaged with over 550 organizations on 405 different conservation and research projects. SFI Program Participants invested $59 million in forest research in 2018. Learn more.
Media Contact
Daniel Pellegrom, Vice President, Communications
202-596-3452
daniel.pellegrom@sfiprogram.org
Conservation Contact
Paul Trianosky, Chief Conservation Officer
423-571-2562
paul.trianosky@sfiprogram.org