Washington Forest Law Center
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WFLC Files SFI Complaint Against Weyerhaeuser for Irresponsible Logging on Steep and Unstable Slopes
On October 1, 2009, on behalf of Sierra Club, WFLC filed a complaint against Weyerhaeuser challenging the company’s “green” certified forestry conducted in Southwest Washington. Weyerhaeuser’s forests are certified under the Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) certification system.
The complaint alleges that Weyerhaeuser violated several of SFI’s environmental standards when it conducted logging and roadbuilding on extremely steep and unstable slopes. During a storm in December 2007, many of these slopes produced massive landslides which delivered large quantities of wood and sediment to rivers and streams, exacerbating flooding that damaged private property and public resources.
The complaint asks SFI to suspend or revoke Weyerhaeuser’s certification and to prescribe conditions ensuring that Weyerhaeuser reforms its practices.
Read the Sierra Club’s complaint.
Read Architecture Week’s October 23 article, “High Tension Over Big Timber.”
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WFLC Files Complaints Against SFI Forest Certification System
Sept. 10, 2009 -- On behalf of ForestEthics, WFLC filed complaints against the Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) forest certification system with the Federal Trade Commission and the Internal Revenue Service. The FTC complaint alleges that SFI engages in deceptive and misleading national advertising; the IRS complaint reports SFI for potentially inappropriately using a tax-exempt “public charity” for funding, operating, and marketing its private forest certification label. The filing of these complaints was covered by The New York Times on Saturday, September 12. Learn more.
Why Have We Taken On SFI? Read WFLC director Peter Goldman’s statement.
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WFLC Opposes Conversion of Teanaway Forestland
In August 2009, Kittitas County launched a Subarea Plan process under the Growth Management Act, covering 55,000 acres in the Teanaway River valley. WFLC is representing a coalition of conservation and recreation organizations who want the land to retain its designation as forestland of long-term commercial significance. Working forests contribute to the regional economy and family incomes, provide wildlife habitat and recreation, and store carbon. However, American Forest Land Company proposes to convert Teanaway forestland into a remote, sprawling housing development. Learn more.
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