Hans Wegner recognised by SFI

The Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) has recognised Hans Wegner, chief sustainability officer of the National Geographic Society, with the annual SFI President’s Award. The SFI notes Wegner’s many contributions – both personally and on behalf of National Geographic Society – have been instrumental in raising awareness of the benefits associated with utilizing forest certification as a proof point for sourcing forest products responsibly and for modeling sustainability principles into daily decisions.

“Hans’ commitment to sustainability is matched only by the depth of his knowledge and his passion for raising awareness among others,” said SFI president and ceo Kathy Abusow. “Hans believes that as a publisher, National Geographic Society has a crucial role to play in encouraging responsible forestry practices and helping to build the foundation of a sustainability model for all users of forest products. He is a true leader in the cause of sustainable forestry.”

Under Wegner’s leadership, the National Geographic Society undertook a complete carbon footprint analysis of the operations of itsheadquarters and implemented a variety of measures to achieve carbon neutral status for its complex.

The National Geographic Society is one of the largest nonprofit scientific and educational institutions in the world. Its interests include geography, archaeology and natural science, and the promotion of environmental and historical conservation.