The Sustainable Forestry Initiative Standard is the basis of the Sustainable Forestry (SFI) Program. The Standard presents the principles and practices that produce sustainable forestry and the measures by which the public can monitor and evaluate the program.

A copy of the 2010-2014 SFI Standard is available for download from the SFI Program website. The SFI Standard communicates the requirements for compliance with the program. SFI program participants apply this exacting standard on all lands they manage and actively promote such practices on other forestlands. This commitment to sustainable forestry stems from the participants' beliefs that forest landowners have a critical stewardship responsibility to current and future generations of Americans.

A copy of the Annual SFI Program Progress Report is available for download from the SFI Program website. The report highlights major accomplishments of the SFI program.

SFI Objectives

1. To broaden the implementation of sustainable forestry by ensuring long-term forest productivity and yield based on the use of the best scientific information available.
2. To ensure long-term forest productivity, carbon storage and conservation of forest resources through prompt reforestation, soil conservation, afforestation, and other measures.
3. To protect water quality in streams, lakes, and other water bodies.
4. To manage the quality and distribution of wildlife habitats and contribute to the conservation of biological diversity by developing and implementing stand- and landscape-level measures that promote habitat diversity and the conservation of forest plants and animals, including aquatic species.
5. To manage the visual impact of forest operations and provide recreational opportunities for the public.
6. To manage lands that are ecologically, geologically, or culturally important in a manner that takes into account their unique qualities.
7. To promote the efficient use of forest resources.
8. To broaden the practice of sustainable forestry by forest landowners through fiber sourcing programs.
9. To broaden the practice of sustainable forestry by encouraging forest landowners to utilize the services of forest management and harvesting professionals.
10. To broaden the practice of sustainable forestry through the use of best management practices to protect water quality.
11. To broaden the practice of sustainable forestry by conserving biological diversity, biodiversity hotspots and high-biodiversity wilderness areas.
12. To broaden the practice of sustainable forestry by avoidance of illegal logging.
13. To broaden the practice of sustainable forestry by avoiding controversial sources.
14. Compliance with applicable federal, provincial, state and local laws and regulations.
15. To support forestry research, science, and technology, upon which sustainable forest management decisions are based.
16. To improve the implementation of sustainable forestry practices through appropriate training and education programs.
17. To broaden the practice of sustainable forestry by encouraging the public and forestry community to participate in the commitment to sustainable forestry, and publicly report progress.
18. To support and implement sustainable forest management on public lands.
19. To broaden the practice of sustainable forestry by documenting progress and opportunities for improvement.
20. To promote continual improvement in the practice of sustainable forestry, and to monitor, measure, and report performance in achieving the commitment to sustainable forestry.

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