WASHINGTON, D.C.— The Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) announces the establishment of two SFI Climate Smart Forestry Initiative Advisory Committees, one in the United States and one in Canada, to shape the activities and outputs of the SFI Climate Smart Forestry (SFI CSF) Initiative on climate-informed forest management practices, science syntheses, and knowledge sharing across North America.

In 2024, SFI launched the Climate Smart Forestry Initiative to advance Objective 9 (Climate Smart Forestry) of the SFI 2022 Forest Management Standard. Objective 9 requires organizations certified to the SFI Forest Management Standard to consider and implement actions to reduce the negative effects of climate change and adapt to changing conditions. The SFI CSF Initiative is a collaborative effort to identify and implement climate-informed, data-driven forestry practices that address climate change through adaptive management, enhanced carbon storage, and increased forest resilience.

“These Advisory Committees will ensure that the SFI Climate Smart Forestry Initiative is guided by the knowledge and experience of diverse national leaders” said Lauren T. Cooper, Chief Conservation Officer at SFI. “By bringing together experts in forest management, research, and conservation, we will advance the role of our forests as important natural climate solutions, increasing the resiliency of our communities and forests to climate change.”

The SFI Climate Smart Forestry Initiative Advisory Committees consist of leadership from Indigenous partners, academic institutions, research and conservation organizations, and large forest landowners from the United States and Canada.  See below for a complete list of members:

Canadian SFI Climate Smart Forestry Initiative Advisory Committee

Alexis Achim, Canada research chair in Silviculture Adapted to Climate Change; Professor, Wood and Forest Sciences, Université Laval
Samuel Bourque, certification manager, Domtar and Quebec SIC lead
Sara Cotter, coordinator – Certification and Compliance, Canfor
Sionaid Eggett, certification coordinator, Ontario Woodlot Association
Trevor Jones, research scientist, Canadian Forest Service, Natural Resources Canada
Marie-Michele Rousseau-Clair, chief conservation officer, Nature Conservancy of Canada
Vincent Roy, Science Partnerships and Knowledge Mobilization director, Canadian Forest Service, Natural Resources Canada
Chief Lindsay Tighe, general manager, Stuwix Resources

United States SFI Climate Smart Forestry Initiative Advisory Committee

Ben Cazell, director of Sustainability, Rayonier
Caitlin Clarke, director, Policy & External Affairs, BTG Pactual Timberland Investment Group
Andi Colnes, deputy director and climate fellow, New England Forestry Foundation
Joe Fargione, science director, North America, The Nature Conservancy
Maria Janowiak, director, USDA Northern Forests Climate Hub & Northern Institute of Applied Climate Science
Bruce Ripley, chief innovation officer, University of Idaho College of Natural Resources
Peter Stein, managing director, The Lyme Timber Company
Bryan Van Stippen, program director, National Indian Carbon Coalition