Certification Standards Keep Drinking Water Clean

NASF is made up of the directors of U.S. state forestry agencies, and its study was the result of a multi-year effort analyzing best management practices data for water quality submitted by all 50 U.S. states. Researchers from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University were commissioned by NASF to perform the analysis. Financial support for the study came from the U.S. Forest Service and a grant from SFI.

The study commended both forest certification programs, and best management practice requirements. Although all major forest certifications in the U.S. were evaluated as making positive contributions to forest sustainability, SFI received particular recognition for its unique fiber sourcing requirements, which reach beyond the bounds of certified lands to improve forest management at a broader scale.

Best management practices result in long-term improvements and protection of water quality, in addition to preventing water sedimentation and pollution in the near term. The practices include controlling soil erosion and ensuring rapid revegetation of the site following harvest. Other common practices include leaving intact forested buffers along streams, installing "water bars" to control runoff, and ensuring careful construction of logging trails and stream crossings. Landowner outreach and logger training are keys to success.

According to Iowa state forester and chair of the NASF Forest Resources Management Committee Paul Tauke, "At a time when our national water supply is more important and stressed than ever, ensuring our forest operations follow the best practices available will go a long way towards ensuring we have cleaner and more plentiful water for generations to come."

The NASF study is freely available to educate both forest managers and the general public as to water quality practices in each state, and it includes an interactive map.

To find out more about SFI, and the ways in which sustainable forestry protects water quality and other critical forest attributes important to all of us, visit http://www.sfiprogram.org/.