The Sustainable Forestry Initiative, Inc. (SFI®) is an independent, non-profit organization dedicated to promoting sustainable forest management. SFI is governed by a three-chamber Board of Directors representing environmental, social and economic sectors equally. The SFI program includes a system of objectives and performance measures which integrate the sustained growing and harvesting of trees and the protection of water and soil quality, biological diversity, wildlife habitat, species at risk and Forests with Exceptional Conservation Value. It is based on the premise that responsible environmental behavior and sound business decisions can co-exist. SFI program participants practice sustainable forestry on all lands they manage and influence millions of additional acres by training loggers and foresters to effectively implement best management practices to protect soil and water quality, supporting research, and broadening the practice of sustainable forestry through landowner outreach and community involvement. The SFI program includes a comprehensive set of standards covering forest management, wood and fiber procurement practices, and the manufacturing and sale of forest-based products in the United States and Canada.
The Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC™) is an international non-profit, non-governmental organization dedicated to promoting sustainable forest management through independent third-party certification. Established in 1999 by small family forest owners from Europe, PEFC is comprised of a global alliance of national forest certification systems and is the largest forest certification system in the world. PEFC endorses national forest certification systems developed through multi-stakeholder processes and tailored to local priorities and conditions that meet specific global criteria. PEFC believes that forest certification needs to be local; this is why PEFC chooses to work with national organizations to advance responsible forestry. PEFC provides forest owners, from the large to the small, with a tool to demonstrate their responsible practices, while empowering consumers and companies to buy sustainably. By recognizing and endorsing more than 39 certification systems globally, including the SFI program and the Canadian Standards Association, PEFC has developed a system of mutually recognized certifications where similar rules and standards are shared and implemented globally.
The American Tree Farm System® (ATFS®) is a program designed to sustain forests, watershed and healthy habitats through private stewardship. Currently, ATFS is a network of 74,000 family forest owners sustainably managing 20.5 million acres of forestland in 44 states. Administered by the American Forest Foundation, ATFS is the largest and oldest sustainable woodland system in the United States. For 75 years, ATFS has enhanced the quality of America’s woodlands by giving forest owners the tools they need to keep their forests healthy and productive. Stemming the loss of America’s woodlands is vital to our country’s clean water and air, wildlife habitat, recreational activities, and producing the jobs, wood and paper products we all need. The American Tree Farm System (ATFS) certification program is internationally endorsed by PEFC.