| The Sustainable Forestry Initiative® (SFI) independent third-party certification program is a voluntary program which insures that products that bear the SFI® logo are produced from sustainably managed forestlands. This program is based upon peer-reviewed scientific research and takes into consideration wildlife and plant habitat, soil, water and air quality, and sound forest management practices to ensure that future generations will have the same abundant forest resources that we enjoy today.
SFI promotes the goals of sustainable forestry and continual improvement of forestry practices. Verification indicators have been developed to assist in the assessment and demonstration of conformance to SFI standards. These indicators are both systems and performance-based. Indicators can be confirmed by qualified professional independent third-party verifiers based on a combination of: (1) existence of internal plans and documentation; (2) field evidence; (3) interviews with knowledgeable personnel in the company or community; and (4) review of compliance records or internal monitoring. To learn more about the Sustainable Initiative Program, visit www.aboutsfi.org
The Sustainable Forestry Board (SFB) was established in 2000 to manage several components of the SFI program, including the standards and certification procedures. Outside stakeholder participation is vital to the SFB’s credibility and independence. Two-thirds of the SFB’s members are from diverse interest groups: environmental and conservation groups, public officials, professional and academic groups, independent logging professionals and forest landowners. The mission of the SFB is to continuously monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of the SFI Standards and Verification Procedures; to assure consistency of the SFI Standards and Verifications Procedures; and to work to monitor and resolve substantive non-compliance issues. For more information about the SFB, go to www.aboutsfb.org
AWP has aggressively pursued this certification to provide our customers a unique product allowing them to better compete in today’s market place. Our certified lumber from our Norton, West Virginia, sawmill will bear the SFI logo as a “stamp of approval”. We can provide our full range of products as certified, both green and kiln dried, in 4/4” thickness. Depending upon the success of this program, AWP may expand our offerings to encompass additional production.
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