WASHINGTON, DC—Charitable organization Sustainable Forestry Initiative released its 2008 progress report, which indicates greater interest in forest sustainability and research. Entitled Sustainable Forestry Initiative: Growing Stronger Together, the report indicates that its members invested $88.9 million USD in forest research last year. SFI has also seen an increase in areas certified to the SFI program, jumping from 154 million acres in 2008 to 162 million acres as of May 2009.

SFI is an environmental group based in Washington, D.C. The 11-year-old organization promotes sustainable forest management by working with conservation groups, local communities, resource professionals and landowners. Currently, it has over 245 program participants from the United States and Canada that use SFI-certified wood and paper products. To download the complete report, click here: www.sfiprogram.com