PEFC International recognizes global leaders

15 November 2013 News

The Sustainable Forestry Initiative® (SFI®) Inc. was recognized this week for the greatest increase in forest certification of the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC) national members at the PEFC General Assembly.

SFI is one of 38 PEFC National Governing Bodies representing forest certification standards from around the globe at the PEFC General Assembly this week in Malaysia. SFI-certified area has grown to just over 100 million hectares in North America, representing 25 percent growth since last year.

Other PEFC members recognized for the greatest growth in certified forest area were PEFC France, and PEFC Poland. Award recipients for the greatest growth in PEFC Chain of Custody (COC) certificates were PEFC France, MTCC (Malaysia) and PEFC Spain.

Ben Gunneberg, Secretary General of PEFC International, stated "I am so pleased to see PEFC members contribute to certified forest area and chain of custody growth throughout the supply chain across North America, Europe and Asia."

"Organizations that have achieved SFI certification since the last PEFC General Assembly in November 2012 include such a diversity of forest management certificate holders. SFI certified organizations include university experimental forests, state lands, provincial lands, forestry community co-ops including small logging operators, First Nations to large corporations," said SFI President and CEO Kathy Abusow, who participated in the PEFC General Assembly.