SFI® Releases New Urban and Community Forest Sustainability Standard

By Chuck Coup, PA SFI Implementation Committee Program Manager

The Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) launched its New SFI Urban and Community Forest Sustainability Standard in 2023 and recognized the contributions of its partners in the standard development process during the International Society of Arboriculture 2023 Annual International Conference last August.

“This marks a new and important chapter in SFI’s mission to advance sustainability through forest-focused collaboration,” said Kathy Abusow, President and CEO of SFI. “Finally, a standard exists for urban and community forests, and we have an opportunity to make a difference for millions of people across North America, and potentially globally.”

More than two years ago, SFI and its partners—American Forests, Arbor Day Foundation, the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA), the Society of Municipal Arborists, and Tree Canada—saw a need and an opportunity to provide leadership in urban and community forestry and raise the profile of their importance as green infrastructure and nature-based solutions to human health, disparity, and environmental sustainability. The new SFI Urban and Community Forest Sustainability Standard will contribute to the resiliency and sustainability of communities, large and small, using trees and forests as natural solutions to improve commu­nity health and address the challenge of climate change.

The new SFI Standard is appropriate for organizations that own, manage, or are responsible for urban and community forests. SFI and its partners look forward to raising awareness and promoting the new SFI Standard to achieve certifications among government organizations (municipalities, counties, states, provinces), Indigenous Peoples, community groups, healthcare organizations, universities, corporate campuses, and many others.

Urban forests provide many social and economic benefits, including improved health and well-being, social cohesion and accessibility, outdoor learning environments, reduced air pollution, and improved urban design. They are also critical for climate change resilience and to promote nature-based solutions. Considering the value of the benefits and how many people around the world live in cities and towns, maintaining the vitality of these resources is essential.

The standard development process included two public comment periods, multiple pilots, and a “red team” review by an external group of experts. Thank you to our partners—American Forests, Arbor Day Foundation, the International Society of Arboriculture, the Society of Municipal Arborists, and Tree Canada—as well as the SFI Urban and Community Forest Sustainability Standard Development Task Group, who collaborated to develop the Standard.

“Trees are key to healthier, happier, safer communities, and standards are key to more sustainable urban forests. This is an inflection point in urban and community forestry. It has been an honor to be a part of developing this new tool,” said Paul Johnson, Senior Director, Urban and Community Forest, SFI.

Quick Facts

• Forest certification has existed for decades; however, a standard has not yet existed for urban and community forests.
• Standards and their associated certifications are effective at increasing engagement and improving performance. They are sector-developed guidelines for the appropriate planning, management, and care of a resource and their associated benefits and risks. Standards do not merely provide a roadmap to sustainable management; they also allow organizations to prove their efforts through third-party certification.
• The SFI Urban and Community Forest Sustainability Standard promotes sustainable urban and community forests based on 16 objectives.
• Organizations from all facets of the urban and community forest sector may seek certification, including governmental organizations (i.e., municipalities, counties, states, provinces), non-governmental organizations, Indigenous Peoples, community groups, healthcare organizations, educational organizations, corporate organizations, and others.
• Urban forests increase our quality of life by promoting mental well-being and encouraging physical activity. They reduce air pollution, cool temperatures in the summer, and protect biodiversity. More than 80% of Americans and Canadians live in cities.

What Our Partners Are Saying…

“As the global credentialing organiza­tion for arborists and urban foresters, we understand the importance and value of this new standard. Standards and their associ­ated certifications are effective at increasing engagement and improving performance. ISA certification and qualification holders will be key subject matter experts for the organizations looking to achieve this new SFI Urban and Community Forest Sustainability Standard.”

- Caitlyn Pollihan, CEO and Executive Director, ISA

“The new SFI Urban and Community Forest Sustainability Standard is a great comple­ment to the Arbor Day Foundation’s Tree City USA program as it inspires continued growth, sophistication, and management of trees in our cities and towns. Urban forests provide countless social, economic and environmen­tal benefits for communities, and maintain­ing the vitality of these resources is essential.”

- Dan Lambe, President, Arbor Day Foundation

“This new standard recognizes the tremen­dous value urban and community forests have in storing carbon, abating stormwater, filtering air and water, providing wildlife hab­itat, and creating jobs. Our urban forests not only contribute to local economies, they’re critical infrastructure to mitigate climate change, improve quality of life, cool cities, and save lives. By providing a standard that gives benchmarks and guideposts, any best practices brought forward will benefit all ur­ban forests consistently, fortifying the health and resilience of urban and community tree canopy into the future.”

- Jad Daley, President and CEO, American Forests

“The Society of Municipal Arborists, as the professional membership association for the people who make or support daily tree planting and care decisions in communities, is thrilled to support SFI’s new Urban and Community Forestry Sustainability Standard. Our members are on the front lines of urban forestry work and every day, their decisions impact millions of trees and people. The SFI Standard will take their work to new heights while also providing an opportunity to ac­knowledge the amazing work being done.”

- Leslie Berckes, Executive Director, Society of Municipal Arborists

For more information about the PA SFI® Implementation Committee, visit their website at www.sfiofpa.org or call 888-734-9366.