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 develop informed and equitable approaches to natural and cultural resources and forestry management issues that represent the needs of the forests of Hawai’i and the U.S.-Affiliated Pacific Islands.

This approach informs the Council of Western State Foresters (CWSF) and Western Forestry Leadership Coalition (WFLC) and ensures that these entities present a unified voice and compelling actions to policymakers, the National Association of State Foresters (NASF), and the Washington Office of the USDA Forest Service (Forest Service), on behalf of the State of Hawai’i, Territories of Guam and American Samoa, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and the Republic of Palau with their unique forestry management issues. 

In addition, the PIFC provides a forum for technology transfer, training, research, learning, and cultural information exchange among USAPI, WFLC, CWSF, NASF, and Forest Service members on topics that concern forests, livelihoods, and impacts of climate change in the region.

Learn more in the PIFC one pager or PIFC briefing document. 

Leadership Team 

The 2025 leadership team includes: 

  • Chair: Christine Fejeran (Guam) 
  • Vice Chair: Jenny Grimm (Hawai‘i) 
  • Secretary: Randon Jack (RMI)
  • 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

Contact

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.