SFI Program
The SFI standard covers key values such as protection of biodiversity, species at risk and wildlife habitat; sustainable harvest levels; protection of water quality; and prompt regeneration. A new SFI 2010-2014 Standard, developed through an open review process, took effect on Jan. 1, 2010. All SFI certifications require independent, third-party audits and are performed by internationally accredited certification bodies.
The SFI program only certifies lands in the United States and Canada, and program participants must comply with all applicable laws. For sources outside of North America without effective laws, participants must avoid illegal or other controversial sources. The SFI program supports activities by international experts to find ways to address the problem of illegal logging and is a member of the international, multi-stakeholder Forest Legality Alliance.
SFI has certified more than 181 million acres (730,000 km2) to its standard in the United States and Canada. At the end of October 2010, SFI had 959 chain-of-custody certifications at 2,339 locations. According to the United Nations, SFI was the fastest growing organization for chain of custody certifications in 2008.
The Board of Directors that governs the SFI program has three chambers that recognize economic, environmental and social sectors equally. Directors include representatives of environmental, conservation, professional and academic groups, independent professional loggers, family forest owners, public officials, labor and the forest products industry.
Sustainable Forestry Initiative certifies companies such as Sierra Pacific Industries and Green Diamond Resource Company. Both of these companies practice clearcutting, under the name of "even-aged management" and several other euphemisms.
Read more about this topic: Sustainable Forestry Initiative
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“Music is so much a part of their daily lives that if an Indian visits another reservation one of the first questions asked on his return is: “What new songs did you learn?””
—Federal Writers’ Project Of The Wor, U.S. public relief program (1935-1943)