Pennsylvania Sustainable Forestry Initiative Implementation Committee

09/12/2025

One of the first priorities for the Pennsylvania Implementation Committee when it was formed in 1995 was to find an organizational sponsor that could administratively house the fledgling Committee. The Pennsylvania Forest Products Association (then the Hardwood Lumber Manufacturers Association of Pennsylvania) answered that call. We recently had the pleasure of recounting some of that history and celebrating 30 years of good work in partnership with PFPA at their annual meeting on Tuesday in State College. While we are now an independent non-profit organization, our history and success remains inseparably linked to PFPA.

1995–2025 | 30 Years of SFI in Pennsylvania 🌳

09/10/2025

On the left is a photo of Pennsylvania logger John “Bob” Zwald, featured in an article published in the March 1985 National Geographic magazine. At that time, personal protective equipment was rarely used and felling techniques often kept loggers dangerously close to the tree as it fell. Bob’s running stance with a still-spinning saw and the look on his face say it all. That was the reality of the job back then.

Fast forward to 2025. On the right is Bob’s son, Paul “Gene” Zwald. Gene is wearing proper protective gear and using the controlled bore cutting technique taught through Game of Logging, a core part of Pennsylvania’s SFI Professional Timber Harvester Training Program. As an SFI Qualified Logging Professional, Gene credits this training with helping him work safer and smarter in the woods.

For 30 years, the Pennsylvania SFI Implementation Committee has been working to improve logger safety, professionalism, and sustainability. We’re proud to celebrate this milestone and the difference training continues to make for timber harvesters across the state.

1995–2025 | 30 Years of SFI in Pennsylvania 🌳

08/24/2025

Did you know you can weld wood?

Explore this post and more from the Damnthatsinteresting community

08/20/2025

🌲🥾🍂 Walk in Penn’s Woods will be coming up before we know it! Are you interested in hosting a walk for 2025? Registration to host is now open: https://forms.gle/H4n4VPXbCvowTEes7

And click here to get more details on this event: https://paforestry.org/walk-in-penns-woods

08/19/2025

From diseases to pests, trees in our region are being attacked on multiple fronts — and the consequences could be deadly.

See what’s putting Pennsylvania and New Jersey forests at risk, and what’s being done to save them.

08/07/2025

ATTENTION LOGGER TRAINING PARTICIPANTS: Registration is now open.

07/24/2025

Click on the link below to learn about the "Green Illusion" and how an untrained eye can sometimes deceive us when we consider the health of our forests just by looking at them.

Lush green vegetation does not always mean a forest is healthy or bode well for the forest’s future.CHAPTERS:00:00 – What’s the Green Illusion?00:48 – Native...

07/16/2025

"By understanding the interconnectedness of forests and water quality, and by adhering to established BMPs during timber harvesting, we can protect these resources for the benefit of all living things. Responsible forest management is not just about sustaining trees; it includes safeguarding the very water that sustains life."

Timber harvesting can pose risks to water resources if not carried out responsibly. To mitigate these impacts, Pennsylvania requires that Best Management Practices (BMPs) be used during earth disturbance activities, such as logging.

06/24/2025

Pennsylvania Implementation Committee staff have been in Lancaster attending the Association of Consulting Foresters 2025 National Conference this week. SFI proudly sponsored and awarded the 2025 Chapter of the Year Awards last evening. We appreciate all that ACF does to support the professional foresters that help landowners across Pennsylvania, and beyond, sustainably manage their forests lands.

06/24/2025

Check out our Agricultural Air Pressure Calculator, designed to provide an indicative cold inflation working air pressure recommendation based on specific parameters entered.

06/13/2025

SFI and the Pennsylvania SFI Implementation Committee Celebrate 30th Anniversary!

As we celebrate the 30th anniversary this year, we invite you to share your stories, perspectives, and reflections on SFI. Whether you’ve been involved in the Committee, participated in training programs, partnered on projects, or simply value the role SFI has played in promoting responsible forest management in Pennsylvania and beyond, we’d love to hear from you. Your stories and experiences are an important part of the history, and we hope you'll join us in commemorating this milestone by sharing your voice: https://forms.gle/zGmSfoUpqEaYJEtS7

They are also excited to share a brand-new history webpage that tells the story of SFI's journey — from the early days of SFI to the present. The page features a newly released publication "A History of SFI & the Pennsylvania SFI Implementation Committee 1995–2025” — capturing 30 years of collaboration, leadership, and commitment to responsible forestry and education: https://sfiofpa.org/history/

Bringing The Standard To Life PENNSYLVANIA SFI IMPLEMENTATION COMMITTEE At the Sustainable Forestry Initiative, we believe that sustainable forests are critical to our collective future. SFI is a sustainability leader through our work in standards, conservation, community, and education. Contact Us....

06/12/2025

https://sfiofpa.org/history/