Page 38 - Georgia Forestry - Winter2017

Sustainability Report
Sustainable Forestry Initiative:
Voluntary, Third-party Certification
There are multiple voluntary forestry certification programs that include third-party verification of forestry management standards.
One example, the Sustainable Forestry Initiative® (SFI®), is the largest single forest standard in the world. Across Canada and the U.S., 280 million acres have been certified to this voluntary, third-party audited standard. In Georgia, about two and a half million acres are SFI certified.
Participants in the SFI program are required to have detailed policies in place to address 14 principles aimed at improving forest health, productivity and sustainability. The policy areas
include sustainable forestry, fore
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productivity and health, protectio
of water resources and biologica
diversity, among others.
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The impacts of sustainable
e forest management practices
through certifications such as SFI extend beyond those who participate directly through the o
management for loggers.
The SFI program’s fiber sourcing requirements and chain-of-
custody certification also help expand the influence of sustainable principles throughout the industry. SFI has a strong commitment to continued improvement through scientific research, which is why program participants are required to invest in forestry research, science and technology. These investments reached $69 million in 2013, totaling $1.4 billion since 1995. ■
ATLANTA-BASED REBECCA TREACY-LENDA IS AN AWARD WINNING COMMUNICATIONS PROFESSIONAL SPECIALIZING IN SUSTAINABILITY STRATEGY AND REPORTING
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example, SFI offers continuing education regarding forest
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1)Moore,Williams,Rodriquez.“ValuingEcosystemsServicesfromPrivateForests,”UniversityofGeorgia,2011. 2)Nowak,Hirabayashi,BodineandGreenfield, EnvironmentalPollution,Volume193,October2014(www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0269749114002395) 3)GeorgiaForestryCommission“Georgia’s Sustainable Forests: A Resource for All Generations,” 2014. 4) CO2e includes other GHGs converted to CO2 equivalents.
Lumber Wholesaler Alapaha, GA 229.532.7585
Providing Comprehensive Forest Management, Appraisal, Consultation, and Real Estate Services Since 1970
DIG. SAFELY. Online Phone
FOREST RESOURCE SERVICES INC.
Specializing in Land and Timber Management & Sales
BOBBY D. BROWN
Registered Forester GA Number 2164 Licensed Realtor in GA Number 165520
20364 GA Hwy #3 Thomasville, GA 31792
229.221.3016 • brown@ftrealty.com
36 | GEORGIA FORESTRY
Experience Stability Knowledge Reliability
717 North Avenue Macon, GA 31211 www.frc.us.com
STANDARDS, RULES FOR LABEL USE, PROCEDURES AND GUIDANCE