CONSERVATION THROUGH FOREST MANAGEMENT CERTIFICATION. Sustainability is a consideration for today’s council properties. Scouting principles promote responsible use of natural and human resources such as forests, water, land, outdoor ethics, and good stewardship of BSA lands for today and tomorrow. Continuous improvement and measured results are part of a sustainability program. Certification to Sustainable Forestry Initiative® (SFI) Forest Management Standard provides a proof point for responsible – and measurable – management of forest resources.

SFI® is an independent, non-profit organization with a mission to advance sustainability through forest-focused collaborations. Currently over 100,000 acres of both Philmont and the Summit Bechtel Reserve are SFI certified. This means that these properties have conservation plans that are in compliance with the SFI Forest Management Standard that promotes healthy forests.

The SFI Forest Partners Program, which is a partnership between SFI, Meredith, National Geographic, Pearson, Macmillan, Hearst Enterprises and Scouting America have provided assistance for initial certification, including funding for assessments of potential participants’ plans, consulting fees, and initial audit readiness.

To learn more about the Sustainable Forestry Initiative, visit www.sfiprogram.org. To learn more about how SFI is collaborating with BSA, see www.sfiprogram.org/scouts/.