The Sustainable Forestry InitiativeTM (SFI) is a comprehensive program of forestry and conservation practices that were written and adopted by the American Forest and Paper Association (AF&PA) (see Forestry Links), and its member companies in 1995.

    The goal of the SFI is to promote a stewardship ethic on all forestlands that ensure conservation and enhancement of water quality, fish and wildlife habitat, and healthy forests while providing for the forest products needs of society. The core of the SFI are twelve objectives that set standards on how member companies will manage their own lands as well as provide outreach to private landowners, loggers, and the general public.

     Member companies are also responsible for working cooperatively within the states they operate with loggers, private landowners and other forest interests in developing outreach and educational programs to ensure SFI implementation on all forestlands. In 1995, a committee was formed in Michigan that was comprised of AF&PA companies, loggers, landowners, academicians, associations, and public agencies with the goal of developing state level SFI programs. The Michigan SFI program include logger education, landowner and public outreach, and state level reporting of regeneration success and harvesting.

     The logger education program, known as Sustainable Forestry Education (SFE), is the cornerstone of SFI efforts in Michigan. Since 1995 over 3000 loggers have completed the training. Michigan State University provides the training, which covers basic forest ecology and silviculture, OSHA regulations, and Best Management Practices for the protection of water quality.

     Private landowner education is another very important effort in Michigan. In cooperation with loggers, industry and public agencies, landowners now have more forest management information and training available than ever before. The "Keys to Sustainable Forest Management" brochure that foresters and loggers have been distributing to landowners provide basic forest management information they should consider before doing a timber sale.

     Public outreach efforts in Michigan include two forestry auto tours, schoolteacher workshops, elementary school programs, and one-on-one communication with legislators. The goal of public outreach is to provide the realities of timber management and the benefits that society receives from the practice of sustainable forestry. Two important Resolutions were passed in 1997 by the Michigan State Senate and House of Representatives, expressing support of the Sustainable Forestry Initiative in Michigan.

The following individuals Chair the Standing Committees of the Michigan SFI Steering Committee:

Chairperson:  Jessica Turino, Weyerhaeuser, Inc.  (231) 631-9233 or (989) 348-3841

Logger Education, MPLC Liaison : Dave Sidell Sidell Forest Products (616) 627-7007

Coordinator:  George Berghorn, Michigan forest Products Council.  (517) 853-8880

Private Forest Landowner Outreach: Mark Sherman Mead Corporation (906) 482-2757

Public Outreach: Randy Kuipers, Menasha Corporation (616) 692-6417

Forest Regeneration: Mark Sherman,  Mead Corporation.  (906) 482-2757

Administrative Support: Amy Doti, Michigan Forest Products Council (703)875-9500

Implementation: Jim Okraszewski, Bob Peterson, Mead Corporation Georgia Pacific (906) 786-1660 (517) 732-5156

For more information about the Sustainable Forestry Initiative in Michigan, visit http://www.michiganforestry.com