Weyerhaeuser Joins International Voices in Support of Forest Certification
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The companies endorsed the announcement following an international discussion including three forest certification systems—the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), the Sustainable Forest Initiative (SFI), and the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC)—at WBCSD's Council Meeting in Istanbul, November 4. The Leadership Statement on the Value and Future of Forest Certification recognizes that reducing forest loss is a global societal priority requiring immediate and concerted action.
Earlier this year, Weyerhaeuser attained international stakeholder membership in PEFC, the world's largest forest certification system and the certification system of choice for small, non-industrial private forests. PEFC, which is made up of large forest owners and hundreds of thousands of family forest owners around the world, has endorsed two North American certifications standards, including the SFI. In the U.S., PEFC also endorses the American Tree Farm System, which means landowners certified to SFI and Tree Farm also comply with PEFC's internationally-recognized sustainability benchmark.
"Our collective statement today and our stakeholder membership in PEFC aligns with our commitment to responsible fiber sourcing, especially from family-owned forests," said Weyerhaeuser VP for Sustainable Forestry Cassie Phillips.
Weyerhaeuser owns, leases, or licenses 20.5 million acres of forests in North America certified to SFI, and more than 300,000 acres in Uruguay certified to FSC and PEFC.
