SFI Forest Conservation Awards
The SFI program recognizes the achievements of its many partners through awards such as the SFI Leadership in Conservation Research Award, and the Dr. Sharon G. Haines Memorial Award for Innovation and Leadership in Sustainability (in partnership with International Paper). It has also created special awards such as the Achievement in Wildlife Management Award (in partnership with the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation).
The Leadership in Conservation Research Award recognizes companies and agencies for activities that protect the environment and advance forestry practices, involve strong collaborative partnerships and lead to impacts that go well beyond lands managed by a specific program participant. Several awards are granted each year to organizations involved in conservation-based research related to SFI program requirements. For more information, download the nominations form here.
The Sharon G. Haines Memorial Award for Innovation and Leadership in Sustainability, in partnership with International Paper, honors Dr. Haines, who was Director of the Office of Sustainability at International Paper. Dr. Haines worked for the company for more than 30 years as one of its leaders in forest and environmental stewardship. This award is granted every two years, or when a suitable candidate is identified. For more information, download the nominations form here.
Conservation Award Recipients:
Dr. Sharon G. Haines Memorial Award for Innovation and Leadership in Sustainability
Larry Selzer (2009)
Lawrence (Larry) A. Selzer, President and CEO of The Conservation Fund, for his leadership in bringing together diverse groups to promote responsible forest management.
Since it was created in 1985, The Fund and its partners have protected more than six million acres (2.4 million hectares) of irreplaceable wildlife habitat, watersheds and waterways, working landscapes, historic sites and recreation areas across the United States. Its non-advocacy, non-membership approach has earned it recognition as the top-rated environmental non-profit in the United States. Selzer is a member of the SFI Inc. Board of Directors and was involved in the early development of the SFI program.
News Release: Lawrence A. Selzer Receives Dr. Sharon Haines Memorial Award
Photo: (left to right) SFI President and CEO Kathy Abusow; Larry Selzer; John Faraci, Chairman and CEO, International Paper.
Leadership in Conservation Research Award
Crown Pine Timber LP (2009)
Crown Pine Timber for projects to protect and restore longleaf pine woodlands in east Texas in partnership with conservation groups and government agencies such as The Nature Conservancy of Texas, The Conservation Fund, the National Wild Turkey Federation, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. The projects will protect unique values on 137,000 acres (55,444 hectares) of SFI-certified lands Crown Pine Timber owns within the Longleaf Ridge Conservation Area.
News Release: SFI Inc. Recognizes Crown Pine Timber for Longleaf Pine Conservation
Photo: SFI President and CEO Kathy Abusow and Brian Gowin, SFI and Conservation Manager for Crown Pine Timber
International Forest Products (Interfor) (2009)
Interfor for a partnership with Aboriginal people along British Columbia’s Pacific Coast that will ensure there is a suitable supply of monumental cedar trees to meet long-term cultural needs. Interfor and the Nanwakolas Council, a leadership group for 12 coastal First Nations, are working together to ensure there will be appropriate cedar trees to meet the cultural needs of coastal First Nation communities for 300 years
News Release: SFI Inc. Presents Interfor with Conservation Leadership Award
Photo: (left to right) Dallas Smith, President Nanwakolas Council, SFI President and CEO Kathy Abusow, Gerry Fraser, Manager of Sustainable Forestry, Interfor.
UPM-Kymmene (2008)
UPM-Kymmene and its partners in the Birds as Bioindicators of Biodiversity Study, which aims to improve forestry practices by evaluating the reproductive performance of several songbird and woodpecker species in treated and control areas of public lands managed by the company in eastern Canada. In addition to UPM, participants include Time Inc.; the Université de Moncton; the New Brunswick Department of Natural Resources; The Nature Conservancy of Canada, and Bird Studies Canada. Study findings will provide the latest in up-to-date science to guide resource professionals in their forest management activities and ensure they best meet the needs of indicator species.
News Release: Bird Study Leads to SFI Conservation Research Award
Photo: (left to right) Kristy Ciruna, The Nature Conservancy of Canada; David Refkin, Time Inc.; Kathy Abusow, SFI Inc.; Philippe Riebel, UPM-Kymmene; Kerrie Wilcox, Bird Studies Canada; Steve Gordon, New Brunswick Department of Natural Resources.
Rayonier Incorporated (2008)
Rayonier Incorporated of Jacksonville, Fla., for promoting conservation of native biological diversity and delivering critical research to help foresters understand how to better protect the hairy rattleweed, one of Georgia’s rarest plants. Hairy rattleweed is an important component of the ecosystem and, since it typically occurs in areas of high biodiversity, it may be an indicator of the quality of the habitat. It is found only on private lands in the longleaf pine flatwoods community of two Georgia counties, and has had an 80 percent decline populations since 1986.The research project, which also involved Georgia Southern University, the Georgia Department of Natural Resources and the Georgia Forestry Commission, attracted media attention from as far away as Germany and New Zealand.
News Release: Rayonier Wins SFI Conservation Research Award
Photo: SFI President and CEO Kathy Abusow (left) and Debi Barrett, Rayonier Inc.
Louisiana-Pacific Corporation (LP) and Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC) (2008)
Louisiana-Pacific Corporation (LP) and Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC) for sharing information and conserving important wetlands and watersheds in Manitoba. LP and DUC have been working together on a variety of projects for years, and in 2005 created a formal Boreal Conservation Partnership to focus on strategies promoting sustainable management of aquatic resources in watersheds of the Duck Mountain Provincial Forest, an important wood supply area for LP. The partnership reflects the spirit of SFI certification through conservation research and habitat protection, improved forest management practices, professional training and community outreach.
News Release: Conservation Partnership In Manitoba Wins SFI Inc. Award
Photo: (left to right) Ducks Unlimited Canada President Neil Downey; SFI VP Market Affairs Karen Brandt; Areas Forest Manager Wade Cable from Louisiana-Pacific’s Swan Valley Forest Resources Division, and Manitoba Conservation Minister Stan Struthers.
SFI-Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation Wildlife Stewardship Award
Forest Capital Partners (2008)
The Minnesota division of Forest Capital Partners was honored for a landmark conservation easement that preserves wildlife habitat, protects jobs and ensures public access to almost 80 square miles (200 square kilometres) of forestland in northern Minnesota. Because the land is near a state natural area and a state park, the result is more than 500,000 acres (200,000 hectares) of uninterrupted conservation territory. The Forest Capital Partners team worked with public agencies and conservation groups such as the Blandin Foundation, The Conservation Fund, The Nature Conservancy, and The Trust for Public Land to create the conservation easement.
News Release: Forest Capital Partners Wins Wildlife Stewardship Award
Photo: SFI President and CEO Kathy Abusow and Brian Kernohan, Forest Capital Partners