• Sustainable Forestry – To Practice sustainable forestry to meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs by practicing and land stewardship ethic that integrates reforestation and the managing, growing, nurturing and harvesting of trees for useful products and ecosystem services such as the conservation of soil, air and water quality, carbon, biological diversity, wildlife and aquatic habitats, recreation, and aesthetics.
• Forest Productivity and Health – To provide for regeneration after harvest and maintain the productive capacity of the forest land base, and to protect and maintain long-term forest and soil productivity. in addition, to protect forests from economically or environmentally undesirable levels of wildfire, pests, diseases, invasive exotic plants and animals and other damaging agents and thus maintain and improve long-term forest health and productivity.
• Protection of Water Resources – To protect water bodies and riparian zones, and to conform with best management practices to protect water quality.
• Protection of Biological Diversity – To manage forest in ways that protect and promote biological diversity, including animal and plant species, wildlife habitats, and ecological or natural community types.
• Aesthetics and Recreation – To manage the visual impacts of forest operations, and to provide recreational opportunities for the public.
• Protection of Special Sites – To manage forests and lands of special significance (ecologically, geologically or culturally important) in a manner that protects their integrity and takes into account their unique qualities.
• Responsible Fiber Sourcing Practices in North America – To use and promote among other forest landowners sustainable forestry practices that are both scientifically credible and economically, environmentally and socially responsible.
• Avoidance of Controversial Sources including Illegal Logging in Offshore Fiber Sourcing – To avoid wood fiber from illegally logged forests when procuring fiber outside of North America, and to avoid sourcing fiber from countries without effective social laws.
• Legal Compliance – To comply with applicable federal, provincial, state, and local forestry and related environmental laws, statutes, and regulations.
• Research – To support advances in sustainable forest management through forestry research, science and technology.
• Training and Education – To improve the practice of sustainable forestry through training and education programs.
• Public Involvement – To broaden the practice of sustainable forestry on public lands through community involvement.
• Transparency – To Broaden the understanding of forest certification to the SFI 2010-2014 Standard by documenting certification audits and making the findings publicly available.
• Continual Improvement – To continually improve the practice of forest management, and to monitor, measure and report performance in achieving the commitment to sustainable forestry.

Comprising environmental, conservation and forestry experts, annually reviews the program’s progress, and releases a report publicly. In 1997, the panel adopted an independent charter under which its selects own members and develops its own agenda to represent the public interest as an outside observer of the SFI program.

Thirty-seven SFI Implementation committees across North America operate at the regional, state and provincial level to help promote the SFI Standard through targeted local forestry associations, landowners, loggers, partnerships with conservation groups, and other community-based organizations.

As part of the SFI program, SFI Implementation Committees promote forester and logger training programs to reach the thousands of independent contractors that are the key to the quality of forest management and harvesting operations.

Public reporting in the SFI program is welcomed. Program Participants are required to support and promote mechanisms for public outreach, education and involvement related to forest management. In addition, on public lands, Program Participants are required to participate in public land planning and management processes with appropriate governments and the public. On these public lands, Program Participants are required to confer withes affected indigenous peoples.

The SFI program requires and SFI Certified Program Participant to provide a report prepared by the certification body to SFI Inc. after the successful completion of a certification, recertification or surveillance audit to the SFI Standard.   The reports are publicly available on the SFI Inc. website (www.sfiprogram.org)

• Committing to purchasing SFI labeled paper and wood products.
• Including the SFI Program and its standard in your procurement policy.
• Joining the effort to tell others about the SFI Program.

• West Virginia’s forests provide over 30,000 jobs.
• West Virginia ranks third in the nation in the percentage of forested land.
• Private forest landowners own the majority of forest land in West Virginia.
• West Virginia’s forests are at least 94% hardwood species.
• West Virginia’s forests re-grow naturally after harvesting from seeds, stumps and roots.
• West Virginia’s forests provide homes for numerous wildlife species, songbirds and aquatic creatures.
• The forest industry is the only natural resource industry that extends into every county in West Virginia.

Smurfit WestRock

Smurfit WestRock is a leader in sustainable, fiber-based packaging solutions. With over 50,000 Smurfit WestRock team members and billions of packages in circulation, we have the responsibility and capability to make significant progress toward a more circular, sustainable economy. We are materials scientists, packaging designers, mechanical engineers and manufacturing experts, using leading science and technology to drive innovation in packaging. WestRock has more than 300 production facilities worldwide. Leveraging our size and scale, we work as One Smurfit WestRock, we partner with our customers to innovate toward their business and sustainability goals. 

Summit Bechtel Reserve – BSA

The Summit encourages participants to grow in competence, confidence, and awareness by providing experiences that require participants to move out of their comfort zone and “stretch” themselves. The Summit uses action and adventure sports to help each individual find their “stretch” zone.

Weyerhaeuser

For more than a century, Weyerhaeuser has been growing trees and making forest products that improve lives in fundamental ways. They manage their millions of forests on a continuous and fully sustainable cycle. They are responsible stewards of the land for multiple uses, including recreation, conservation, economic development, and different forms of renewable energy. The wood products they make are used to build homes where families are sheltered and raised. They are proud of what they do and how they do it and invite all to learn more about sustainable forest management.

Conservation  Fund

The Conservation Fund has delivered bold conservation solutions that are good for both people and the planet for over 35 years. We reject the idea that we must choose the environment or the economy by embracing the and. We protect working forests that address climate change and provide jobs. We protect farms and food for school kids. We conserve habitat and prevent flooding in communities. We equip communities with tools to save nature and create a vibrant economy.

Pixelle Specialty Solutions

Built on more than 150 years of leadership in the specialty paper industry, we deliver far more than quality paper products. With an innovative approach, a commitment to sustainability and a team of experts, we consistently go above and beyond for our customers.

Cole and Crane

Century-old Landholding Trust in southern West Virginia dedicated to the conservation and sustainability of forest lands, as well as the betterment of our community.

Lyme  Mountaineer Timberlands

The property is managed and certified to the SFI ® Forest Management Standard to ensure sustainable management and conservation of the forest resource.

Nuveen Natural Capital

Nuveen Natural Capital is a land-focused asset management platform. Combining expertise across farmland and timberland investment specialists, we have over 37 years of land-based investing experience. With $13.7B of assets under management and over 3 million acres across over 600 properties in 10 countries, our platform is equipped to deliver investment solutions to protect and enhance nature, climate and people.

Nuveen Natural Capital deploys a value-added mindset and regional hands-on management to land-based investments to advance best practices and help create sustainable production systems for food, fiber and timber.

The SFI member companies have made a commitment to integrate public concerns and expectations into the way they manage their lands. These concerns must be addressed while respecting the rights of the more than 250,000 forest landowners in West Virginia.

A toll-free number has been made available to respond to questions concerning practices that appear to be inconsistent with the SFI Program guidelines. If you have comments or concerns about

 Visit the national website   http://www.sfiprogram.org/

• Licensed Timber Operators
• Licensed Certified Loggers

SFI State Implementation Committee – Landowner information A Commitment to the Future Sustainable Forestry Initiative