HR 378 — A Resolution designating December 17, 2026, as "Sustainable Forestry Initiative Day" in Pennsylvania to commend the Sustainable Forestry Initiative and the Pennsylvania SFI Implementation Committee for over 30 years of leadership, commitment and impact on the sustainability of this Commonwealth's forests and forest-based communities.

PRINTER'S NO.    2696

                  THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA



           HOUSE RESOLUTION
              No. 378
                                              Session of
                                                2025

     INTRODUCED BY CAUSER, PASHINSKI, PICKETT, RAPP, STENDER,
        NEILSON, SMITH, ARMANINI AND GILLEN, DECEMBER 10, 2025

     REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE AND RURAL AFFAIRS,
        DECEMBER 10, 2025


                               A RESOLUTION
 1   Designating December 17, 2025, as "Sustainable Forestry
 2      Initiative Day" in Pennsylvania to commend the Sustainable
 3      Forestry Initiative and the Pennsylvania SFI Implementation
 4      Committee for its 30 years of leadership, commitment and
 5      impact on the sustainability of this Commonwealth's forests
 6      and forest-based communities.
 7      WHEREAS, This Commonwealth is blessed with nearly 17 million
 8   acres of forestland that provide ecological, economic and
 9   recreational benefits to the citizens of this Commonwealth and
10   contribute globally through the supply of sustainably sourced
11   wood products, clean water and wildlife habitats; and
12      WHEREAS, Pennsylvania's forest products industry remains one
13   of the Commonwealth's largest manufacturing sectors, employing
14   tens of thousands of workers and supporting rural economies
15   across this Commonwealth; and
16      WHEREAS, In response to growing concerns in the early 1990s
17   about forest sustainability and industry practices, the forest
18   products industry launched the Sustainable Forestry Initiative
19   (SFI) in 1995 to promote responsible environmental stewardship
 1   through a commitment to sustainable forestry practices; and
 2      WHEREAS, The same year, the Pennsylvania SFI Implementation
 3   Committee (PA SIC) was formed to ensure the successful and
 4   locally adapted implementation of SFI standards and principles
 5   across this Commonwealth, making Pennsylvania one of the
 6   original State-level leaders in the program; and
 7      WHEREAS, Over the past 30 years, the PA SIC has delivered
 8   innovative logger training, landowner outreach and public
 9   education programs that have improved forest health, advanced
10   best management practices and supported sustainable timber
11   harvesting across Pennsylvania; and
12      WHEREAS, The PA SIC has trained more than 8,000 loggers,
13   foresters and landowners in its Professional Timber Harvester
14   Training Program and has developed, compiled and distributed
15   countless resources encouraging responsible forestry on private
16   lands; and
17      WHEREAS, The Pennsylvania SFI Implementation Committee
18   continues to engage with educators, policymakers,
19   conservationists and industry leaders to build consensus and
20   foster collaborative forest stewardship that benefits both
21   people and the environment; therefore be it
22      RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives designate
23   December 17, 2025, as "Sustainable Forestry Initiative Day" in
24   Pennsylvania; and be it further
25      RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives commend the
26   Sustainable Forestry Initiative and the Pennsylvania SFI
27   Implementation Committee for its 30 years of leadership,
28   commitment and impact on the sustainability of this
29   Commonwealth's forests and forest-based communities; and be it
30   further

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 1      RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives reaffirm its
 2   support for the Sustainable Forestry Initiative as a voluntary,
 3   science-based program that promotes environmental stewardship,
 4   economic opportunity and education throughout the forest sector;
 5   and be it further
 6      RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives urge continued
 7   cooperation among forest landowners, industry partners,
 8   educators, conservationists and public agencies in support of
 9   the goals and principles of the Sustainable Forestry Initiative
10   across this Commonwealth.




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