What We Do

Mission Statement

It is the mission of the Michigan SFI ® Implementation Committee (SIC) to promote and foster an understanding of the Sustainable Forestry Initiative ® (SFI) program and to promote sustainable forest management on all forestlands, regardless of ownership.

Goals & Objectives

1. Fulfill the key elements of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Sustainable Forestry Initiative, Inc. (SFI, Inc.) including, but not limited to, logger training, inconsistent practices monitoring, landowner outreach, and public recognition.
2. Carry out an annual work plan developed by SIC members to guide the SIC in fulfilling the SIC's mission and MOU.
3. Implement a SIC communications strategy to educate and promote the SFI program and sustainable forestry practices.
4. Core Priorities:
   1. Establish criteria and identify delivery mechanisms for logger and forester training to define what it means to be “SFI trained.”
   2. Establish protocols for addressing inconsistent practices.
   3. Focus landowner outreach efforts on education and technical assistance.
   4. Focus public outreach efforts on increasing SFI program recognition and support with local opinion leaders and forestry professionals.
   5. Submit the SIC Annual Progress Report to SFI, Inc.
   6. Protect the integrity of the SFI program by:
      1. ensuring proper SIC service mark usage,
      2. alerting SFI, Inc. when improper communications or misleading claims are observed, and
      3. avoiding the appearance of participation or compliance by non-SFI Program Participants.
   7. Support the efforts of state and federal agencies to report harvest, regeneration, and best management practice (BMP) compliance statistics.

Membership is open to all SFI Participants who own and/or manage forestlands, own or operate facilities, or procure fiber within the State of Michigan. In addition, loggers, forest products companies, non-industrial landowners, forestry consultants, and representatives from the state and regional forestry associations, the state forester's office, forestry schools, state and university extension services, technical education centers, conservation organizations, and other stakeholders are also encouraged to participate as primary members. Primary members have voting rights. Affiliate membership is open to non-SFI certified parties, such as those described above, who are interested in and supportive of the mission, goals, and objectives of the Michigan SIC. Affiliate members may participate in all Michigan SIC events; however, they do not have voting rights.

Funding for the Michigan SIC comes from special assessments collected through the Michigan Forest Products Council (MFPC) as well as from grant funding sources. Contributions from SFI participants are collected on the basis of a per ton assessment (for wood-utilizing facilities) and a per acre assessment (for landowning participants). Educational and governmental entities, as well as associations, conservation associations, loggers, and other interested stakeholders are assessed a flat rate which is approved by SIC members. Affiliate members will also contribute through the assessment of a flat fee for that membership category, which is approved by the SIC members. These assessments are payable pursuant to the bylaws of the Michigan SIC and MFPC. Funding sources, other than SFI grants and contributions from SIC members, may be used if approved by the SIC. MFPC and the Michigan Forest Resource Alliance (MFRA) act as fiduciary agents for fiscal management of monies collected by the Michigan SIC, to include assessments, membership dues, grants, and other contributions.