Lake States Regional Collaboration
Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan SICs have teamed up to address some of the regional components of the SFI 2022 Standards.
In accordance with the requirements of the 2022 SFI Fiber Sourcing Standard, the SFI Implementation Committees of the Lake States (MI, MN and WI) worked cooperatively on an assessment of Forests of Exceptional Conservation Value (FECVs). Lists of Globally Critically Imperiled (G1) and Imperiled (G2) species and ecosystems were acquired from NatureServe for each state. Trained biologists and foresters reviewed each entry and evaluated the potential for forestry activities to impact the FECV (positively and/or negatively).
The process resulted in focused lists of species and ecosystems that could benefit from additional education, information and mitigation to ensure their continued presence on the landscape. The SICs and SFI certified organizations will use this information to develop training materials and programs for wood producers, foresters, loggers and private non-industrial forest landowners within their fiber procurement regions.
The SFI 2022 Forest Management Standard has incorporated opportunities for cooperative efforts involving SFI Implementation Committees to meet various Indicators in this standard. SFI Inc. developed a playbook and hosted a national workshop on March 31, 2022 to discuss how Climate Smart Forestry Indicators could be addressed collaboratively.
Later that summer, SFI hosted a Lake States Regional Workshop specifically to help SICs in this region meet Performance Measure 9.1 and 9.2. The workshop was facilitated by Stephen Handler, Climate Adaptation Specialist with the US Forest Service Northern Research and Northern Institute of Applied Climate Science (NIACS). The goal of the workshop was to discuss potential climate change risks and identify potential adaptation actions for SICs and Certified Organizations to address impacts and mitigation opportunities.