The Pacific Islands Forestry Committee (PIFC) is comprised of forestry leaders from the U.S.-Affiliated Pacific Islands, including:
- Territory of American Samoa
- Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands
- Federated States of Micronesia
- Territory of Guam
- State of Hawai‘i
- Republic of Marshall Islands
- Republic of Palau
The USDA Forest Service’s Institute of Pacific Islands Forestry and Pacific Southwest Region are also members of the PIFC.
The mission of the PIFC is to aid the Western Forestry Leadership Coalition (WFLC) and the Council of Western State Foresters in developing an informed and unified approach to meet the needs of tropical forest management in the U.S.-Affiliated Pacific Islands.
The PIFC advocates for natural resource issues and forestry managers’ needs as they relate to the management of their tropical forests. Additionally, the PIFC provides a forum for technology transfer, training, and cultural information exchange related to the unique forest management challenges of the region.
Learn more in the PIFC one pager or PIFC briefing document.
Leadership Team
The 2024 leadership team includes:
- Chair: Christine Fejeran (Guam)
- Vice Chair: Jenny Grimm (Hawai‘i)
- Secretary: Amanda Uowolo (Forest Service)
- Past Chair: Marlyter Silbanuz (FSM)
- Sherry Hazelhurst, USDA Forest Service
- WFLC Staff Liaison: Sara Goodwin
Work Plan
Each year, the PIFC leadership team produces a report for the WFLC Fall Meeting. This report highlights key accomplishments from the past year and a look at work for the year ahead. Recent reports are featured below:
Highlights
- WFLC worked with the Pacific Islands to develop communications materials. This project, with support from the USDA Forest Service, brought forth the development of communications materials for each Pacific Island. The foundation of the project focused on using content and topics from the State Fact Sheets to build additional products and increase communications capacity for the islands. To view a sampling of the communications products created, visit https://bit.ly/pifc_comms.
- The 2023 PIFC Workshop was highlighted in a feature story, “Caring for People and Protecting Forests in Hawai’i and the U.S.-Affiliated Pacific Islands,” authored by Hilary Clark, Public Affairs Specialist for the USDA Forest Service Pacific Southwest Research Station. The story details the significance of the gathering, agenda highlights, and the importance of forestry and conservation in the Pacific Islands.
Blog Posts
- January 2024 - PIFC Workshop: Collaboration & Cohesion for Professional Development
- August 2023 - Inside American Samoa’s Forestry Programs: A Staff Member’s Perspective
- December 2022 - Pacific Island Foresters and Partners Gather in Guam
Contact
If you wish to contact a member of the Pacific Islands Forestry Committee, please contact Sara Goodwin.