2011 SFI Annual Conference

Presentations

Tuesday, Sept. 13, 2011: Welcome

• Don Stevens, Chief, Chief of the Nulhegan Band of the Coosuk Abenaki Nation, welcomed delegates.
• Kathy Abusow, President and CEO, SFI Inc. presented an update on SFI activities.
• Bob Luoto, Chair, SFI Inc. Board of Directors, representing American Loggers Council, talked about SFI's commitment to training.
• Steven Sinclair, Vermont State Forester, welcomed delegates and presented an overview of forest management and forest certification in Vermont.

 

Tuesday, Sept. 13, 2011: Bioenergy and Responsible Procurement

• Nadine Block, Senior Director, Government Outreach, SFI Inc., provided an update on activities related to certification and procurement of biomass feedstocks.
• Jimmie Powell, Energy Team Lead, The Nature Conservancy, discussed drivers in the bioenergy market and opportunities for bioenergy companies to support responsible forest management through sourcing of woody biomass.

 

Wednesday, Sept. 14, 2011: SFI Inc. Board Open Discussion

• Michael Goergen, Executive Vice-President and CEO, Society of American Foresters and Chair, SFI External Review Panel moderated an open conversation with members from the three sectors of the SFI Board of Directors: Stewart Hardacre, Chief Executive Officer, Habitat for Humanity Canada; John M. Hagan III, Ph.D., President, Manomet Center for Conservation Sciences; and Daniel S. Fulton, President and CEO, Weyerhaeuser Company.
  No Presentations

 

Wednesday, Sept. 14, 2011: Forest Certification – What Do the Next Five Years Hold?

• Kathryn Fernholz, Executive Director, Dovetail Partners Inc. looked at what lies ahead for forest certification.

 

Wednesday, Sept. 14, 2011: Session: Aboriginal Partnerships – Making a Difference on the Ground

• Scott Robertson, Associate in the Aboriginal Law Group at Gowlings, moderated a discussion about Aboriginal communities and forest certification. Panel members included Steve Andringa, Tribal Forestry Program Manager, Yakama Nation Division of Natural Resources; Ryan Clark, Manager of Forestry & Strategic Planning, Capacity Forest Management; Chief Lorraine Cobiness, President, Miitigoog General Partner Inc.; Lennard Joe, General Manager, Stuwix Resources Ltd.; and Anna Tikina, Post-Doctoral Fellow, University of British Columbia.
  No Presentations

 

Wednesday, Sept. 14, 2011: Keynote Address

• Larry Selzer, President and CEO, The Conservation Fund
  offered his perspective on the importance of working together to keep forests as forests through responsible dialogue, partnerships and sound forest management.

 

Wednesday, Sept. 14, 2011: Session: Achieving Results Through Conservation Partnerships

The SFI Conservation and Community Grants Program was launched in 2010, and currently supports 24 projects which have brought together about 125 partner organizations to advance important work. Learn how these initiatives are promoting working forest conservation easements, developing practical tools to avoid illegal fiber in the supply chain, and helping academic institutions work with family forest landowners.

• Allison Welde, Director, Conservation Partnerships and Communications, SFI Inc., provided an update on SFI conservation partnerships, including the SFI Conservation and Community Grants Program.
• Adam Grant, Senior Associate, World Resources Institute, introduced WRI's Forest Legality Alliance Risk Tool, which will help importers and other stakeholders avoid illegal forest products.
• Kristen Howell, Conservation Specialist, North Carolina Coastal Land Trust, talked about working forest conservation easements, and how they are being used in North Carolina.
• Greg Yarrow, Professor of Wildlife Ecology, Clemson University, showed how academic institutions can facilitate responsible forest management and improved wildlife habitat on family forest lands.

 

Thursday, Sept. 15, 2011: Making Informed Choices Throughout the Supply Chain

• Jason Metnick, Senior Director, Market Access and Product Labeling, SFI Inc., answered key customer questions about SFI and certification.
• Kirsten Vice, Vice President, Canadian Operations, National Council for Air and Stream Improvement, talked about NCASI's Environmental Footprint Comparison Tool.
• Scott McDougall, President and CEO, TerraChoice, showed how to make customers aware of a company's environmental choices in a compelling and accurate manner.
• Mary White, Director, Sustainable Package Sourcing, PepsiCo Inc., discussed PepsiCo's approach and commitments to responsible packaging and sustainability.

 

Thursday, Sept. 15, 2011: What's Ahead in Green Building?

• Michael Luzier, President, NAHB Research Center showed how NAHB facilitates the uptake of the ANSI/ICC 700-2008: National Green Building Standard.
• Mark Pawlicki, Director of Corporate Affairs and Sustainability, Sierra Pacific Industries looked at ways Sierra Pacific Industries promotes SFI-certified wood products to the green building community.
• Rob Ziegelmeier, Sustainability Resources Chair, Architectural Woodwork Institute, discussed green building and certified wood.