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Pacific Islands Forestry Committee

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 and Accomplishments:

The 2024 leadership team includes: 

  • Chair: Christine Fejeran (Guam) 
  • Vice Chair: Lajikit Rufus (Marshall Islands) 
  • Secretary: Jenny Grimm (Hawai‘i) 
  • Past Chair: Marlyter Silbanuz (FSM)
  • Sherry Hazelhurst, USDA Forest Service
  • WFLC Staff Liaison: Sara Goodwin

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:

If you wish to contact a member of the Pacific Islands Forestry Committee, please contact Sara Goodwin.


PIFC StoryMap - Water, Wildfire, & Forestry:

The PIFC in cooperation with WFLC and the Timmons Group developed an online interactive StoryMap to demonstrate the value of forestry related work in the Pacific Islands. The featured stories, focused on the key themes of water and fire, demonstrate the unique nature of island forestry and highlight outcomes resulting from investments into forestry in the Pacific Islands.

View the StoryMap below, or open the StoryMap a new window

Video Feature: 

This video, captured by Dan Dennison, introduces each of the committee members and highlights the importance of the committee.