World Resources Institute

World Resources Institute: Forest Certification Clean Water Assessment

Project Overview

Starting in 2012, The World Resources Institute was awarded $35,000 over two years to illustrate how SFI requirements related to best management practices result in improvements in water quality and quantity, and how certification complements government initiatives to protect water resources. Work focused in the Pacific Northwest and Northeastern regions.

The World Resources Institute compiled and disseminated the latest knowledge about the water quality benefits of best management practices (BMPs) relative to minimum practices required by states. Their work paid special attention to forest roads and associated stormwater management systems while analyzing the role of forest certification in promoting adoption of BMPs. Their work helped forest managers understand how forest certification can help achieve improvements in water quality or quantity. Research also supported decision-makers such as the Environmental Protection Agency and state natural resource agencies identify ranges of expected benefits of best management practices and areas of greatest remaining scientific uncertainty. The project also advanced understanding of how forest certification complements government initiatives to protect water resources, and how it can generate water quality improvements that could be valued within payment for watershed services programs.

WRI’s Grant supported SFI objectives to protect water resources and promote adherence to Best Management Practices.

Project Partners

In addition to the World Resources Institute, project partners included the U.S. Endowment for Forestry and Communities, Willamette Partnership and SFI Implementation Committees in the Pacific Northwest and Northern New England regions.

About the World Resources Institute

The non-profit World Resources Institute's mission is to move human society to live in ways that protect Earth's environment and its capacity to provide for the needs and aspirations of current and future generations. It is currently involved in work to develop forest-based water markets across the United States.