SFI Conservation & Community Partnerships Grant Program

On January 19, 2010, SFI Inc. announced its Conservation & Community Partnerships Grant Program and invited applications for projects that support partnerships between organizations interested in improving forest management in the United States and Canada, supporting responsible procurement globally. Proposals were also requested to demonstrate how the project complements existing government initiatives in North America and which involves collaboration with government agencies.

Areas of the SFI 2010-2014 Standard highlighted through the grant application process included:

the role of certified forests in the emerging bioenergy/carbon markets;
avoidance of controversial sources, including illegal logging in the global supply chain;
improved wildlife habitat management and conservation of biodiversity; and
support for activities that benefit communities involving organizations such as government agencies, Aboriginal communities and universities.

Through its Conservation and Community Partnerships Grant Program, the Sustainable Forestry Initiative program has made an initial investment of $675,000 – $307,500 in 2010 alone – to support cooperative projects that deliver tangible, on-the-ground benefits to forests. Through the involvement of partners, the projects will leverage additional resources and achieve a total value of almost $2.7 million.

The projects announced in May include partnerships with numerous SFI Program Participants and are led by the following organizations. Click on the title to download individual project information sheets.

Bird Studies Canada, along with the Canadian Wildlife Service will work to conserve bird biodiversity across Canada.
Clemson University will help South Carolina landowners adopt and implement practices to improve wildlife habitat on managed forest lands in partnership with local conservation organizations and government agencies.
Forest Trends will hold the fourth Potomac Forum on Illegal Logging & Associated Trade, helping U.S. suppliers navigate legality in the global supply chain.
South Coast Conservation Program, in partnership with nine First Nations holding tenure in British Columbia, will help identify and protect habitat and populations of forest-dependent species at risk along British Columbia's Pacific Coast.
The American Chestnut Foundation will help restore the American Chestnut, including test plantings of blight-resistant trees.
The National Council for Air and Stream Improvement, working with State Natural Heritage Programs, will pilot a habitat-based approach to protecting at-risk imperiled species and communities.
The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, along with 11 state agencies and two Canadian provinces, will enhance the biodiversity of young forest habitats, helping to reverse the declines of some 80 species at risk.
The Ruffed Grouse Society will hold six Wisconsin Coverts workshops, in partnership with the University of Wisconsin's Extension and the Department of Forest and Wildlife Ecology to help private landowners in the Great Lakes Region manage their land for wildlife.
World Resources Institute will create an online dynamic risk assessment tool to reduce illegal wood imports into the United States.

The SFI program is the only independent third-party forest certification program that includes research among its standard requirements. Since 1995, SFI-certified organizations have invested more than $1.1 billion US for research activities that improve the health, productivity and responsible management of forest resources.

SFI Inc. values and facilitates this research and outreach work through awards and support for collaborative activities, including the SFI Leadership in Conservation Research Awards.

For more information, contact Allison Welde.

LEARN MORE:

January 2010 Grant RFP
SFI Forest Conservation Awards
Conservation Science and Research

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