Sustainable Forestry Initiative

This is a set of forest management principles for members of the American Forest and Paper Association (AF&PA) must follow. Check out AF&PA's web site about SFI. The principles are grounded in four premises:

1. Society's Changing Expectations of Forestry: This involves paying more attention to water quality, recreation, wildlife habitat, ensuring reforestation, maintaining biodiversity, protecting lands of special ecological assistance, and minimizing the visual impact of harvesting.
2. Commitment by AF&PA members: This means adhering to the 12 guidelines.
3. Policies that promote sustainability: AF&PA members are committed to promote sustainable forestry on not only their own land, but also nonindustrial forest land under their influence. This includes following BMP's, discouraging harvesting in inappropriate weather and on inappropriate sites, ensuring prompt reforestation, improving wood utilization, and recognizing certified professional loggers.
4. Accountability: This includes an annual Sustainable Forestry Progress Report, an 1-800 number for the Maine citizens to voice concerns, and an independent review of forestry practices.

The Principles

• Employ an array of scientifically, environmentally, and economically sound practices in the growth, harvest, and use of forests
• Promptly reforest harvested areas
• Protect water quality through riparian protection measures
• Enhance wildlife habitat for game and non-game species
• Minimize the aesthetic impact of harvesting
• Protect company lands of ecological, geological, or historic significance
• Contribute to biodiversity conservation
• Improve wood utilization
• Use forest chemicals prudently
• Foster the practice of sustainable forestry on all forestlands through cooperation with nonindustrial forest landowners, foresters, loggers, and other forest industries
• Publicly report progress in SFI implementation
• Provide opportunities for public outreach with SFI

Participants

• Champion International Corp.
• Eastern Fine Papers
• Fraser Papers Inc.
• Georgia Pacific Corp.
• Great Northern Paper Inc.
• Hancock Timber Resource Group
• International Paper Co.
• J.D. Irving, Ltd.
• James River Timber Corp.
• Madison Paper Industries
• Mead Paper
• Pingree Associates, Inc.
• S.D. Warren Co.

Contact

Maine's Sustainable Forestry Initiative

P.O. Box 901, Yarmouth, ME 04096

207-846-0122

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