Photo © BigStockPhoto
“Forests: A Way of Life” is the theme for the Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) Annual Conference, coming to Ottawa from September 27 to 29. The event targets those who use or work with forests, including producers, customers, harvesting professionals, and academics. It focuses on the important benefits that can be gained from ensuring forests are responsibly managed—including some relevant to the built environment, such as the creation of sustainable communities.
The event’s sessions include:
- “Provincial Perspectives on Challenges and Opportunities Linked to the Future of the Forest Sector,” led by Kevin Edgson, CEO of EACOM Timber Corporation, with speakers Jason Fisher (associate deputy minister of B.C.’s Ministry of Forests, Lands, and Natural Resource Operations), Ronald Brizard (associate deputy minister of forestry with Québec’s Ministry of Forests, Wildlife, and Parks), Kathleen McFadden (assistant deputy minister at Ontario’s Ministry of Natural Resources), and Thomas MacFarlane (assistant deputy minister of renewable resources and operations at New Brunswick’s Energy and Resource Development);
- “Global Trends in Supply Chain Management,” presented by Julia Marton-Lefèrve, chair of the advisory board for Sustainable Biomass Program;
- “The SFI Fiber Sourcing Story,” presented by Lynn Wilson (director of natural resources with Louisiana-Pacific), Laura Thompson (director of technical marketing and sustainable development with Sappi North America), George D’Urso (director of sustainability with WestRock), and Scott Jones (CEO of Forest Landowners Association); and
- “Green Building and Corporate Social Responsibility,” with speakers to be announced.
A field tour of Kenauk Nature, a 26,000-ha (65,000-acre) private fish and game reserve in Montebello, Qué., is also available, with tour options including forest management and research sites. For more information or to register, visit the event’s site.
