Preferred by Nature gains SFI Forest Management accreditation: expanding sustainable forestry certification services

Preferred by Nature is pleased to announce our accreditation as an SFI Forest Management (SFI FM) certifier by the Standards Council of Canada (SCC). As an organization with almost three decades of working with the forestry sector worldwide, this new service expands our certification offering to the sector.

The SFI certification adds an extra layer of value to the forestry certification process, empowering companies to achieve even greater heights in sustainable forest management. This accreditation shows Preferred by Nature's commitment to keeping up with changing industry standards and improving our role as a driver of positive change.   

RMS has become our first client under this new certification service.

“This partnership signifies our shared dedication to environmental, social and economic sustainability practices and management. RMS is a great company to work with because commitment to the high standards of responsible forest management is part of its culture,” said Kara Wires, Senior Forestry Specialist at Preferred by Nature.

Understanding the SFI Forest Management Certification

SFI FM certification is an acknowledgement of an organization's commitment to managing forests sustainably, promoting responsible practices and safeguarding ecosystem health. This certification serves as a mark of excellence in environmental management, reflecting an organization's dedication to maintaining the delicate balance between economic viability and ecological vitality.

The SFI Forest Management Standard has been developed by the Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI), an independent, non-profit organization that provides solutions to local and global sustainability challenges while promoting sustainable forest management across the United States and Canada. SFI Inc. is governed by the SFI Board, which sets SFI’s strategic direction and is responsible for overseeing and improving the internationally recognized SFI program and SFI Standards. The Board has three chambers, equally representing the environmental, social and economic sectors.

In the 2022 standards, SFI integrated a new objective to recognize and respect Indigenous People's rights. SFI-certified organizations are encouraged to engage and collaborate with local Indigenous and Tribal groups to gain insights into their traditional forest management practices.

The SFI Forest Management Standard also has specific requirements related to climate change adaptation and fire resiliency,” Climate Smart Forestry,” which makes the present SFI Standard different from other forest certification schemes and services.

RMS: A Beacon of Sustainable Practices

Founded in 1950, RMS is one of the world’s leading providers of forest investment management services. RMS’ vision is to advance the practice of forestry and appreciation of the benefits privately-owned forests provide to society. It strives to create forest value for its investors.

As an independently owned and operated company, RMS has established a legacy by optimizing the biological, financial and societal value of each forest asset it manages. The company is highly experienced in every facet of timberland investing and specializes in the acquisition and operation of large-scale, working forests.

All forestland assets under RMS management are certified to one or more of the leading sustainable forest management standards, including SFI and Forest Stewardship CouncilTM (FSCTM) standards. RMS applies a disciplined process to achieve and maintain forest certification status and to gain useful third-party perspectives as a way to consistently exceed them. 

The company actively employs advanced forestry management practices to advance the sustainable management of its investor’s forests while promoting the health of the communities in which it operates around the world.

Throughout the company’s history, RMS has demonstrated a strong commitment to the long-term stewardship of forest resources. Its approach to sustainable management is consistent with its forestry heritage and values – and directly aligns with the interests of its investors. 

RMS follows a proactive approach toward sustainability that aligns harmoniously with the principles upheld by the SFI certification. While the company has previously worked with other certification bodies, Preferred by Nature’s ability to audit both the SFI and FSC standards offered both greater audit efficiency and a deeper pool of experienced auditors. 

“As Preferred by Nature has been our FSC certifier, we are well acquainted with its professionalism and customer service,” said Jimmy Bullock, Senior Vice President of Forest Sustainability for RMS.  “Having completed its first-ever SFI audit for RMS, Preferred by Nature exceeded our expectations with its audit team’s level of knowledge and experience with SFI.”   

Showing its strong commitment to managing land sustainably and protecting the environment, RMS has earned the SFI FM certification from Preferred by Nature. RMS also maintains an FSC Forest Management certification with Preferred by Nature.

“RMS has shown admirable commitment to enhancing the ecological and financial benefits of working forests, and its persistent pursuit of maintaining the SFI FM accreditation is evidence of its efforts. The company has a dedicated staff with a wealth of experience, knowledge and expertise that is engaged in sustainable forest management,” added Kara. 

To learn more about the SFI FM certification, please click here.

Cover image: RMS-managed lands in North Carolina / Photo courtesy of RMS

About Preferred by Nature

Preferred by Nature is an international non-profit organisation working to support better land management and business practices that benefit people, nature and climate in 100+ countries. We do this by supporting other organizations and businesses to take responsible approaches. We constantly seek to improve the systems that we work with. With almost 30 years of experience, we have certified and verified various organizations and businesses against international sustainability standards.

As of September 2023, we have certified a total forest area of more than 39 million hectares. These forests are located around the world in Europe, Africa, America and Asia. Also, 94% of global timber production is covered by our legality risk assessments and free tools for responsible sourcing. For more information, please visit www.preferredbynature.org.

About Resource Management Service, LLC 

RMS is one of the world’s largest and most experienced providers of timberland investment and forestry management services. Our focus is generating optimal, near-term cash yield and long-term asset appreciation by employing state-of-the-art systems and the most sustainable advanced forest management practices in the world. As an independently owned and operated company, RMS has established a legacy by optimizing the biological, financial and societal values for every asset we manage. Based in Birmingham, Ala., RMS is a registered investment adviser with $4.9 billion of timberland assets under management in the United States and Brazil. For more information, please visit us at www.resourcemgt.com.