SIC Governance

SFI Inc. is an independent, registered charitable organization under section 501(c)(3) of the United States Internal Revenue Code. It promotes sustainable forest management across North America and responsible fiber procurement globally.

SFI Inc.’s 18-member multi-stakeholder Board of Directors comprises three chambers, representing environmental, economic and social interests equally, so it can meet the many needs of forests and communities. Board members include representatives of environmental, conservation, professional and academic groups, independent professional loggers, family forest owners, public officials, labor and the forest products industry. This diversity reflects the variety of interests in the forestry community.

SFI Inc. has always valued the key role of public officials in forest management in North America, and has government representation in its Board’s social chamber.

The SFI Board updates the SFI Standard every five years following a public review process, and based on recommendations from volunteer, multi-stakeholder committees. The SFI Board is the only body that can modify the standard.

The SFI Program in Oregon is run by a State Implementation Committee (SIC).  The Oregon SIC works at the local level to promote the SFI Standard as a means to broaden the practice of sustainable forestry and ensure on-the-ground progress. These resource professionals volunteer a significant amount of time to assure that national SFI program objectives are consistently implemented and adapted to region-specific needs.

---

The Role of SFI Implementation Committees

SFI responds to local needs across the U.S. and Canada through 34 SFI Implementation Committees at the state, provincial, and regional levels. These committees work with local, forestry, and professional associations, universities, government agencies, landowner groups, conservation groups, and many others to promote SFI standards as a means to broaden the practice of responsible forestry and achieve on-the-ground progress.

This grassroots network support logger training, youth education, conservation research and community engagement activities. SFI Implementation Committees are a critical part of our work promoting the SFI Standards, collaborating on the training of harvesting professionals and connecting people and communities to the forest. The committees also support youth engagement and education initiatives to encourage future leaders.

All SFI Program Participants owning or operating primary forest product facilities, owning or managing forestland, or procuring fiber within the state or province are expected to participate in their local SFI Implementation Committee. This approach to training and implementation of responsible forestry practices is unique to the SFI Program — no other forest certification program in the world has this level of grassroots support to promote responsible forestry, best management practices for water quality and training.