A clearly-defined Sustainable Forestry Initiative Standard is the foundation of the Sustainable Forestry (SFI)® Program. The Standard clearly states 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 2005-2009 SFI Standard is available for download from the SFI Program website. The SFI Standard spells out 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.

SFI Objectives

• To broaden the implementation of sustainable forestry by ensuring long-term harvest levels based on the use of the best scientific information available.
• To ensure long-term forest productivity and conservation of forest resources through prompt reforestation, soil conservation, afforestation, and other measures.
• To protect water quality in streams, lakes, and other water bodies.
• 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 fauna.
• To manage the visual impact of harvesting and other forest operations.
• To manage Program Participant lands that are ecologically, geologically, historically, or culturally important in a manner that recognizes their special qualities.
• To promote the efficient use of forest resources.
• To broaden the practice of sustainable forestry through procurement programs.
• To improve forestry research, science, and technology, upon which sound forest management decisions are based.
• To improve the practice of sustainable forest management by resource professionals, logging professionals, and contractors through appropriate training and education programs.
• Commitment to comply with applicable federal, provincial, state, or local laws and regulations.
• 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.
• To promote continual improvement in the practice of sustainable forestry and monitor, measure, and report performance in achieving the commitment to sustainable forestry.

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