The Sustainable Forestry Initiative® is one of the most widely recognized forest certification systems in the world, with more than 135 million acres third-party certified to the SFI standard. An important feature of the SFI is its emphasis on science as a basis for continuous improvement in forest management. Program participants must support research on critical topics identified in Objective 9 of the SFI standard and they must apply relevant scientific information in their forest management activities.

NCASI has developed a CD containing information that describes how NCASI helps SFI program participants address science-based requirements of the 2005-2009 SFI Standard (SFIS) and thus improve their environmental management and sustainable forestry practices. For example, by design, NCASI’s forestry research program addresses all of the issues identified in SFIS Performance Measure 9.1. As a result, many forest products companies cite their membership in NCASI as evidence of compliance with SFI research requirements. NCASI research also addresses most other science-based elements of the SFIS including biodiversity conservation; wildlife management at stand and landscape levels; water quality and BMP effectiveness; forest chemicals; soil productivity and forest health; carbon sequestration and climate change; forest monitoring and assessment; and others. Thus, SFI Program Participants often use NCASI research and resources to improve their practices related to a wide range of SFIS indicators (e.g., conducting assessments, managing forests with exceptional conservation value, protecting water quality, enhancing wildlife habitat, and complying with green-up restrictions).

NCASI members may obtain a copy of the CD by contacting Pam Bruns at the NCASI Headquarters office. The material on the CD also will be made available in the near future to NCASI members on the NCASI website. For more information about NCASI sustainable forestry research and its relevance to the Sustainable Forestry Initiative, contact Dr. Alan Lucier or Dr. Ben Wigley.

Contact information:

• Pam Bruns at (919) 941-6411, email pbruns@ncasi.org
   
• Al Lucier at (919) 941-6403, email alucier@ncasi.org
   
• Ben Wigley (864) 656-0840, email bwigley@ncasi.org