Indicators common to WASIC
Performance Measure 4.1
Indicator 3
Program to individually and/or through cooperative efforts such as SFI Implementation Committees, support diversity of native forest cover types and age or size classes that enhance biological diversity, by incorporating the results of analysis of documented diversity at landscape and ownership/tenure levels, to ensure the contribution of the managed area to the diversity of conditions that promote biodiversity.
Indicator 4
Certified Organizations shall individually and/or through cooperative efforts such as SFI Implementation Committees, participate in or incorporate the results of credible, relevant state, provincial, or regional conservation planning and priority-setting efforts to conserve biological diversity and incorporate the results of these efforts in forest management planning. Credible priority-setting efforts include state and provincial wildlife action plans, state forest action plans, relevant habitat conservation plans, provincial wildlife recovery plans, Indigenous planning processes or ecoregional plans.
Performance Measure 4.2
Indicator 2
Program to locate and protect known sites of flora and fauna associated with viable occurrences of critically imperiled and imperiled species and ecological communities, defined as Forests with Exceptional Conservation Value. Programs for protection may be developed independently and/or through cooperative efforts involving SFI Implementation Committees and may include Certified Organization managers of Certified Organizations, cooperation with other stakeholders, or use of easements, conservation land sales, exchanges, or other conservation strategies.
Performance Measure 4.4
Indicator 3
Individually or collaboratively participate in or support research that demonstrates the conservation outcomes resulting from management strategies.
Performance Measure 9.1
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
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 Smart Forestry; 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 2.2.1; 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.
Performance Measure 10.2
Indicator 1
Participation in, or support of, local, state, provincial, federal, or Indigenous fire management and prevention programs.
Indicator 2
Participation in, or support of, programs to promote benefits of fire management, and raise awareness about the environmental, economic, and social risks of undesirable impacts of wildfire to values such as carbon emissions, water quality and quantity, air quality, species habitat, public safety, and human health.
Performance Measure 12.1
Indicator 1
Financial or in-kind support of research, collaboratives, or knowledge transfer to address key themes of relevance in the region of operations as identified by Certified Organizations, local stakeholders, communities and/or Indigenous Peoples. Examples could include, but are not limited to, the following topics: a. climate change adaptation and mitigation; b. water quality and quantity; c. biodiversity, Forests with Exceptional Conservation Value, and species maintenance and recovery; d. landscape ecology; e. Indigenous traditional forest-related knowledge; f. ecosystem services or non-timber forest products; g. community engagement; h. forest health and productivity; i. support for Forest Inventory Analysis (FIA); j. SFI sponsored conservation research; k. the role of forests in the bioeconomy, and l. or similar themes which build broader understanding of the benefits and effects of sustainable forest management or sustainable supply chains.
Indicator 2
Ensure that knowledge gained through research is shared, to the extent possible, to positively influence sustainable forest management.
Performance Measure 12.2
Indicator 1
Participation, individually and/or through cooperative efforts involving SFI Implementation Committees and/or associations at the national, state, provincial or regional level, in the development of information such as: a. regeneration assessments; b. growth and drain assessments; c. best management practices implementation and conformance; d. biodiversity conservation information for family forest owners; e. social, cultural, or economic benefit assessments; and f. landscape-scale biodiversity assessments which clarify the contributory role of sustainable forest management.
Performance Measure 13.2
Indicator 1
Participation in or support of SFI Implementation Committees to establish criteria and identify delivery mechanisms for wood producer core training courses that allow individuals to attain qualified logging professional status. These criteria shall address at least the following: a. awareness of sustainable forestry principles and SFI’s work across four pillars: standards, conservation, community, and education; b. best management practices, including streamside management and road construction, maintenance, and retirement; c. awareness of responsibilities under the U.S. Endangered Species Act, the Canadian Species at Risk Act, Forests with Exceptional Conservation Value (critically imperiled and imperiled species and ecological communities), and other measures to protect biodiversity and wildlife habitat; d. logging safety; e. U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS) regulations, wage and hour rules, and other provincial, state, and local employment laws, and f. other topics identified by Certified Organizations and/or SFI Implementation Committees that improve their responsibilities in meeting the SFI 2022 standards.
Indicator 2
Participation in or support of SFI Implementation Committees to establish criteria and identify delivery mechanisms for wood producer continuing education training courses that shall be taken by qualified logging professionals at least once every two years to maintain their status. The continuing education training course(s) shall address one or more of the following topics: a. awareness of sustainable forestry principles and SFI’s work across four pillars: standards, conservation, community, and education; b. best management practices, including streamside management and road construction, maintenance, and retirement; c. reforestation, invasive species management, forest resource conservation, aesthetics and special sites; d. awareness of rare forested natural communities as identified by provincial or state agencies, or by credible organizations such as NatureServe and The Nature Conservancy; e. transportation issues; f. business management; g. public policy and outreach; h. awareness of emerging technologies; i. logging safety; or j. other topics identified by Certified Organization and/or SFI Implementation Committees that improve their responsibilities in meeting the SFI 2022 Standards.
Performance Measure 14.1
Indicator 2
Support, individually and/or through cooperative efforts involving SFI Implementation Committees, education and outreach to forest landowners describing the importance and providing implementation guidance on: a. best management practices; b. reforestation and afforestation; c. visual quality management; d. conservation objectives, such as critical wildlife habitat elements, biodiversity, threatened and endangered species, and Forests with Exceptional Conservation Value; e. management of harvest residue (e.g., slash, limbs, tops) considers economic, social, environmental factors (e.g., organic, and nutrient value to future forests) and other utilization needs; f. control of invasive species; g. characteristics of special sites; and h. reduction of wildfire risk; i. use of qualified logging professionals, qualified resource professionals and/or certified logging companies; j. awareness of SFI, and k. reporting of inconsistent practices.
Performance Measure 14.2
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
Indicator 1
Support for SFI Implementation Committees (e.g., toll-free numbers and other efforts) to address concerns about apparent nonconformance.
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.