• Rights of Indigenous Peoples

    RR-FM-210a.2 Description of engagement processes and due diligence practices with respect to human rights, indigenous rights, and the local community

    OBJECTIVE 8. RECOGNIZE AND RESPECT INDIGENOUS PEOPLES’ RIGHTS

    OBJECTIVE 11. LEGAL AND REGULATORY COMPLIANCE

    OBJECTIVE 14. COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT AND LANDOWNER OUTREACH

    Performance Measure 8.1. Certified Organizations shall recognize and respect Indigenous Peoples’ rights.

    Indicator 1. Certified Organizations shall develop and implement a written policy acknowledging a commitment to recognize and respect the rights of Indigenous Peoples. This policy shall provide reference to a program that includes: a. use of available resources and information to identify the Indigenous Peoples whose rights may be affected by the Certified Organization’s forest management activities. b. recognition of the established framework of legal, customary, and traditional rights such as outlined in: i. the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples; ii. federal, provincial, and state laws and regulations; iii. treaties, agreements or other constructive arrangements among governments and Indigenous Peoples. c. appropriate training of personnel and contractors so that the Certified Organization is competent to fulfill their responsibilities under Objective 8 of the Forest Management Standard.

    Performance Measure 8.2. Certified Organizations with forest management responsibilities on public lands shall confer with Indigenous Peoples whose rights may be affected by the Certified Organization’s forest management practices.

    Indicator 1. Program that includes communicating with affected Indigenous Peoples to enable Certified Organizations to: a. understand and respect traditional forest-related knowledge; b. identify and protect spiritually, historically, or culturally important sites; c. address the use of non-timber forest products of value; d. communicate through processes that respect their representative institutions, using appropriate protocols; e. provide opportunities to review forest management plans and forest management practices; and f. respond to inquiries and concerns received.

    Performance Measure 8.3. Certified Organizations are encouraged to communicate with and shall respond to Indigenous Peoples whose rights may be affected by forest management practices on the Certified Organization’s private lands.

    Indicator 1. Certified Organizations are aware of traditional forest-related knowledge, such as known cultural heritage sites, the use of wood in traditional buildings and crafts, and flora that may be used in cultural practices for food, ceremonies, or medicine.

    Indicator 2. Respond to Indigenous Peoples’ inquiries and concerns received.

    Performance Measure 11.2. Certified Organizations shall comply with all applicable social laws at the federal, provincial, state, and local levels in the country in which the Certified Organization operates.

    Indicator 1. Written policy demonstrating commitment to comply with social laws, such as those covering civil rights, equal employment opportunities, gender equality, diversity inclusion, anti-discrimination and anti-harassment measures, workers’ compensation, Indigenous Peoples’ rights, workers’ and communities’ right to know, prevailing wages, workers’ right to organize, and occupational health and safety.

    Indicator 2. Forestry enterprises will respect the rights of workers and labor representatives in a manner that encompasses the intent of the International Labor Organization (ILO) core conventions.

    Performance Measure 14.2. Certified Organizations shall individually and/or through cooperative efforts involving SFI Implementation Committees support and promote, at the state, provincial or other appropriate levels, mechanisms for public outreach, education and involvement related to sustainable forest management.

    Indicator 1. Periodic educational opportunities for the public promoting sustainable forestry, such as a. field tours, seminars, websites, webinars or workshops; b. educational trips; c. self-guided forest management trails; d. publication of articles, educational pamphlets, or newsletters; or e. support for national, state, provincial, and local forestry organizations and soil and water conservation districts. f. engagement and support of teachers and/or students though programs such as Project Learning Tree.

    Performance Measure 14.3. Certified Organizations shall, individually and/or through cooperative efforts including SFI Implementation Committees, establish, at the state, provincial, or other appropriate levels, procedures to address concerns raised by loggers, consulting foresters, employees, unions, stakeholders, the public or other Certified Organizations regarding management that appears inconsistent with the SFI standards principles and objectives.

    Indicator 2. Process to receive and respond to public inquiries. SFI Implementation Committees shall submit data annually to SFI Inc. regarding concerns received and responses.

  • Climate Change Adaptation

    RR-FM-450a.1: Description of strategy to manage opportunities for and risks to forest management and timber production presented by climate change

    OBJECTIVE 9. CLIMATE SMART FORESTRY

    Performance Measure 9.1 Certified Organizations shall individually and/or through cooperative efforts involving SFI Implementation Committees or other partners identify and address the climate change risks to forests and forest operations and develop appropriate adaptation objectives and strategies. Strategies are based on best scientific information.

    Indicator 1. Based on best scientific information, Certified Organizations shall identify climate change risks and prioritize them based on the likelihood, nature, severity of their expected impact to their forest lands or forest tenures.

    Indicator 2. Certified Organizations shall develop an adaptation plan to address priority climate change risks, via effective implementation of the SFI 2022 Forest Management Standard requirements for potential adaptive management including: a. periodic updates of forest inventory and recalculation of planned harvests as appropriate to account for changes in growth due to productivity increases or decreases, including improved data, long-term drought, fertilization, climate change, or forest health; b. access to growth and yield modeling capabilities; c. documented harvest trends within long-term sustainable levels identified in the forest management plan, and d. appropriate research, testing, evaluation, and deployment of improved planting stock, including varietal seedlings.

    Indicator 3. Certified Organizations shall document how their adaptation plan objectives and strategies fit within broader regional climate adaptation strategies and plans, where they exist.

    Indicator 4. Certified Organizations shall report annually to SFI Inc. their progress towards achieving climate change adaptation strategies and plans.

    Performance Measure 9.2 Certified Organizations shall individually and/or through cooperative efforts involving SFI Implementation Committees or other partners identify and address opportunities to mitigate the effects associated with its forest operations on climate change.

    Indicator 1: Based on best scientific information, Certified Organizations shall identify and address opportunities to enhance the climate benefits associated with forest management operations on the forests they own or manage via effective implementation of the SFI 2022 Forest Management Standard requirements such as: a. Objective 2 – Forest Health and Productivity; Objective 10 – Fire Resilience and Awareness; and/or other silvicultural or operational practices to enhance the climate benefits associated with their forest operations.

    Indicator 2: Based on best scientific information, Certified Organizations shall identify and address opportunities to enhance ecosystem resilience for the forests they own or manage via effective implementation of the SFI 2022 Forest Management Standard requirements including: a. prompt reforestation or planned natural reforestation as per Indicator 2.1.1; b. adequate regeneration and appropriate actions to correct understocked areas, and c. evaluation for afforestation of areas that are not ecologically important, and d. protection of desirable or planned advanced regeneration during harvest and the retention of vigorous trees during partial harvest.

    Indicator 3: Based on best scientific information, Certified Organizations shall develop a program to identify and address greenhouse gas emissions within their operational control.

    Indicator 4: Certified Organizations shall report annually to SFI Inc. their measures to mitigate climate change associated with forest operations.