Minnesota SFI Implementation Committee Wins Award for Engaging Youth on Indigenous Cultural Awareness and Conservation Sustainable Forestry Initiative Inc. Washington, District of Columbia, UNITED STATES WASHINGTON and OTTAWA, May 12, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Sustainable Forestry Initiative Inc. (SFI) is pleased to announce the Minnesota SFI Implementation Committee as the 2021 winner of the SFI Implementation Committee Achievement Award. This award recognizes the exceptional work done by the grassroots network of 34 SFI Implementation Committees across the U.S. and Canada. These committees respond to local needs and priorities related to implementation of SFI standards, conservation, community, and education work. The Minnesota SFI Implementation Committee was selected for successfully connecting the efforts of teachers and youth to Indigenous cultures and sustainability and for working with partner organizations to build bat-boxes that help battle white-nose syndrome, a disease caused by a fungus that affects hibernating bats. The Minnesota SFI Implementation Committee’s leadership shows how critical the SFI Implementation Committees are to SFI’s success in advancing community engagement and sustainability through forest-focused collaboration.