Pennsylvania Sustainable Forestry Initiative Implementation Committee

11/13/2025

This year the Pennsylvania Implementation Committee has taken time to recognize the SFI Program's 30th Anniversary and share some of that history and its impact with our friends across the Commonwealth. Our Executive Director recently gave a presentation at the PA Hardwoods Development Council meeting, who kindly shared the recording with us so we could share it with you.

1995–2025 | 30 Years of SFI in Pennsylvania 🌳

11/07/2025

Is a wildfire the final word on a forest, or just a chapter in its ongoing story? Nature has a way of rewriting its own narrative, even after the most destructive of events.

11/05/2025

💻 FREE webinar coming up next week on Nov. 11th you may not want to miss! Forest Seminar: Fundamentals of Oak Management will be covering the ecology and management of mixed oak forests, the most common forest type across PA. Designed for landowners, forestry professionals, and nature enthusiasts alike, this hour-long session will provide foundational knowledge about mixed-oak forests in the Mid-Atlantic region and offer insights into the challenges and strategies involved in regenerating oak stands. Two times are available to help accommodate your schedule, one at noon and one at 7:00 p.m. ET.

Don’t miss this chance to get your oak knowledge on, register now: https://extension.psu.edu/forest-seminar-fundamentals-of-oak-management

11/01/2025

Many thanks to Cummings Lumber Company for supporting SFI logger training in Pennsylvania!

Cummings Lumber Hosts SFI Qualified Logging Professional Training

On Monday, October 27th, Cummings Lumber Company, Inc. proudly hosted an SFI Qualified Logging Professional (QLP) continuing education program. The full-day, 8-hour course focused on Tree, Log, and Lumber Grades and was led by Scott Weikert, Forest Resources Educator with Penn State Extension.

This annual training is required to maintain QLP status following the completion of core requirements. Participants who have completed a core course or earned CE credit receive a comprehensive training report detailing their expiration date and a summary of all completed coursework. Each report includes a wallet-sized card for easy reference in the field.

The Pennsylvania Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) Professional Timber Harvester Training Program is dedicated to promoting sustainable forest management, operational safety, regulatory compliance, skill development, professionalism, and profitability. Its mission is to serve the needs of Pennsylvania’s timber industry, forest landowners, and the broader goals of Sustainable Forestry Initiative, Inc.

SFI Administrative Coordinator Mark Ott expressed appreciation for the strong turnout from loggers across the Northern Tier. As a long-standing SFI partner, Cummings Lumber was pleased to host the training and provide lunch for all attendees.

For more information about the Pennsylvania SFI program, please visit the Pennsylvania SFI Implementation Committee website at www.sfiofpa.org.
Sustainable Forestry Initiative
Penn State Extension

10/24/2025

10/24/2025

https://www.nhpr.org/show/something-wild/2025-10-17/something-wild-not-just-nuts-soft-mast-also-fuels-the-forest

Acorns and other nuts get all the attention in a mast year, but berries and fruits — 'soft mast' — are equally important for wildlife and forest ecosystems.

10/22/2025

10/20/2025

TO REGISTER: www.sfiofpa.org/register

10/17/2025

https://www.psu.edu/news/administration/story/penn-state-alumna-named-lead-department-ecosystem-science-and-management

Carrie Laboski, a Penn State alumna and research leader for the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service’s Pasture Systems & Watershed Management Research Unit, University Park, has been named head of the Department of Ecosystem Science and Management in Penn State’s College...

10/15/2025

10/12/2025

🌲 Happy National Logger Day! 🌲

October 12th was officially designated as the day to recognize loggers across the USA. Today we celebrate Pennsylvania’s professional loggers—hardworking stewards of our forests who make sustainable forestry possible. For 30 years, the Pennsylvania SFI Implementation Committee has been proud to support them through training that improves safety, sustainability, and forest stewardship.

Thank you, Pennsylvania loggers!

10/10/2025

Yesterday the Pennsylvania Implementation Committee partnered with Cameron, Elk, McKean, Potter, and Tioga County Conservation Districts and Generations Forestry Inc. to offer an Erosion Control in our Forests workshop in Wilcox, PA. We had a great group of participants, thoughtful discussions on how to protect our soil and water resources during timber harvesting, and wonderful weather for looking at practical examples of best management practices (BMPs) in the field. 🌎💧🌳