SFI In Brief | View as Webpage

August 2023

DR. REAGAN FLOWERS JOINS SFI SFI is pleased to welcome Dr. Reagan Flowers as new Chief Education Officer.  With Dr. Flowers in this leadership role, we will broaden the reach of Project Learning Tree’s (PLT) award-winning environmental education products, strengthen our connection to STEM education and career pathways programming, and support PLT's diverse network of partners to leverage our Lifetime of Learning resources. .

BACK TO SCHOOL, BACK TO NATURE Project Learning Tree and PLT Canada are getting ready for the Back-to-School period with the launch of our Back to Nature Campaign and the unveiling of our newest educational resource in Canada, the Explore Your Environment: K-8 Activity Guide, and in the United States, the Together for Birds Activity Collection! Research shows that every child benefits–academically, mentally, socially, and health-wise–when they learn outdoors. Stay tuned for more details about this new campaign and how you can help us reach more educators and students across North America via our vast SFI and PLT network!

SFI 2023 COMMUNITY GRANTS SFI is proud to announce 16 new SFI Community Grants to support meaningful initiatives in communities across the United States and Canada while strengthening SFI’s mission of advancing sustainability through forest-focused collaboration. Learn more about the grant projects and partners.

SFI'S ANNIE PERKINS ON THE MASS TIMBER GROUP SHOW Annie Perkins, SFI's Senior Director of Green Building and Supply Chain, recently joined the Mass Timber Group Show to discuss SFI-certified wood and other components of sustainable buildings, what influenced her to get her start in the sector, and what continues to inspire her today. Watch the episode here.

SFI JOINS 1T.ORG CANADIAN LEADERSHIP COUNCIL 1t.org Canada is here! The trillion trees platform of the World Economic Forum–1t.org has been launched in Canada. Kathy Abusow, SFI's President and CEO, has joined the 1t.org Canada Leadership Council to provide leadership and support to the pledging companies, stakeholders and communities in meeting their forest conservation and restoration pledge targets. SFI has been part of the U.S. chapter since its launch in 2020, pledging to advance sustainability through forest certification and conservation impact.

CELEBRATING VOICES FROM SFI’S INDIGENOUS RELATIONS TEAM  June was National Indigenous History Month, and in the spirit of celebrating the cultures, traditional knowledge, and achievements of Indigenous Peoples across Canada, we want to recognize the members of SFI’s Indigenous Relations team.    Read about them, their journeys, and the work they do to advance respectful relationships with Indigenous communities. We encourage all to continue learning and listening to the voices of Indigenous Peoples’, their stories, and their history, not just during National Indigenous History Month, but throughout the year.

SFI AT THE BOY SCOUTS' 2023 NATIONAL JAMBOREE SFI and forest sector volunteers joined the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) National Jamboree at SFI-certified Summit Bechtel Reserve in West Virginia, a gathering of over 15,000 Scouts. The SFI exhibit booth engaged over 3,300 Scouts, offering insights on the role of forests in climate and species protection and sharing ideas about green careers. Read more about the Jamboree.

PAUL JOHNSON'S PASSION FOR TREES AND PEOPLE Paul Johnson remembers the first tree he planted. Of course he does—he's an urban forester with a passion for trees and people. Learn about Paul’s career in urban and community forests and how he came to SFI for an opportunity to make a big difference with the New SFI Urban and Community Forests Sustainability Standard.

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