September 18, 2025

Dear Potential Partner with the Forest,

The Maine Sustainable Forestry Initiative State Implementation Committee (Maine SFI-SIC) is pleased to roll out its “Partners with the Forest Project”. 

The Maine SFI Implementation Committee is a 501c3 organized exclusively for charitable and educational purposes, including, but not limited to, engaging in outreach and educational programs to increase public awareness and understanding of the Sustainable Forestry Initiative (“SFI”) and the environmental, social, and economic benefits of sustainable forestry, to increase public awareness and understanding of sustainable forestry practices in Maine, and to assist organizations in Maine in securing and maintaining SFI certification.

The 2022 SFI Forest Management Standard consists of 17 Objectives that address:

Objective 1: Forest Management Planning - To ensure forest management plans include long-term sustainable harvest levels and measures to avoid forest conversion or afforestation of ecologically important areas.

Objective 2. Forest Health and Productivity - To ensure long-term forest productivity and conservation of forest resources through prompt reforestation, afforestation, deploying integrated pest management strategies, minimized chemical use, soil conservation, and protecting forests from damaging agents.

Objective 3. Protection and Maintenance of Water Resources - To protect the water quality and water quantity of rivers, streams, lakes, wetlands, and other water bodies.

Objective 4. Conservation of Biological Diversity - To maintain or advance the conservation of biological diversity at the stand- and landscape-level and across a diversity of forest and vegetation cover types and successional stages including the conservation of forest plants and animals, aquatic species, threatened and endangered species, Forests with Exceptional Conservation Value, old-growth forests and ecologically important sites.

Objective 5. Management of Visual Quality and Recreational Benefits - To manage the visual impact of forest operations and provide recreational opportunities for the public.

Objective 6: Protection of Special Sites - To manage lands that are geologically or culturally important in a manner that takes into account their unique qualities.

Objective 7. Efficient Use of Fiber Resources - To minimize waste and ensure the efficient use of fiber resources.

Objective 8. Recognize and Respect Indigenous Peoples’ Rights - To recognize and respect Indigenous Peoples’ rights and traditional knowledge.

Objective 9. Climate Smart Forestry - To ensure forest management activities address climate change adaptation and mitigation measures.

Objective 10. Fire Resilience and Awareness - To limit susceptibility of forests to undesirable impacts of wildfire and to raise community awareness of fire benefits, risks, and minimization measures.

Objective 11. Legal and Regulatory Compliance - To comply with all applicable laws and regulations including, international, federal, provincial, state, and local.

Objective 12. Forestry Research, Science and Technology - To invest in research, science and technology, upon which sustainable forest management decisions are based.

Objective 13. Training and Education - To improve the implementation of sustainable forestry through appropriate training and education programs.

Objective 14. Community Involvement and Landowner Outreach - To broaden the practice of sustainable forestry through public outreach, education, and involvement, and to support the efforts of SFI Implementation Committees.

Objective 15. Public Land Management Responsibilities - To participate and implement sustainable forest management on public lands.

Objective 16. Communications and Public Reporting - To increase transparency and to annually report progress on conformance with the SFI Forest Management Standard.

Objective 17. Management Review and Continual Improvement - To promote continual improvement in the practice of sustainable forestry by conducting a management review and monitoring performance.

Partner organizations benefit greatly from the management of private forests.

Does your organization produce solid wood or paper products, cultural, food or medicinal products that are sourced from the forest?

Does your organization market and sell consumer products including but not limited to: fishing gear, hunting rifles and gear, outdoor adventure gear, or camping gear?

Does your organization benefit from clean water for recreational use (fishing, boating), hydro power, or source clean water for commercial products (bottled water, beer, spirits)?

Does your organization benefit from providing support services such as insurance, training, education, or outreach to the forest industry?

Please consider engaging with the Partners with the Forest Program with one of the many options that are available:

Associate membership - Engage with the Maine SFI-SIC and attend quarterly meetings, education, outreach, and networking opportunities. Annual dues paid to Maine SFI-SIC.

Promotional Licensing - The SFI promotional license allows your organization to use the Maine SFI-SIC logo on your products to show your support of and commitment to sustainable forestry.

Endorsement - Approve, support, or sustain the Maine SFI-SIC with a one-time donation.

Charitable Donation - Support sustainable forestry in Maine and the work of the SFI-SIC with an annual charitable donation.

For more information about “Partners with Forest” click on the link here: Maine SFI SIC

Thank you for considering!

 

Best regards,

 

Peter B. Johnson,

Executive Director - Maine SFI Implementation Committee