Media.Knet.Ca

Ontario press release

Forest Industry And Environmentalists Work Together - McGuinty Government Encouraged At Spirit Of Cooperation

May 18, 2010

The Ontario government is encouraged to see environmental groups and forest companies working together to help develop a plan that would lead to both a healthy and a prosperous Canadian forest.

The historic Canadian Boreal Forest Agreement, signed today between the Forest Products Association of Canada and the environmental community, is an exercise in cooperation that will ultimately benefit Ontario's Crown forests.

This agreement recognizes the important balance between economic development and environmental sustainability in this sector.

"I strongly support this coming together of forest products companies and environmental groups. Only good can come when all of us work together for both the health and prosperity of our forests. A healthy forest industry requires a healthy forest, and I see today's Canadian Boreal Forest Agreement announcement as great news in that regard."
– Michael Gravelle, Minister of Northern Development, Mines and Forestry, and chair of the NOHFC

"The long term health and sustainability of our forests is a concern that I share with all Ontarians. This historic agreement demonstrates real leadership on behalf of forest product companies and environmental groups. The conservation of the boreal forest region remains a priority for the McGuinty government."
– Linda Jeffrey, Minister of Natural Resources

QUICK FACTS

• Ontario's forest sector is a key component of the province's economy and is the second largest industrial sector in the province. In total, it supports almost 200,000 direct and indirect jobs in over 260 Ontario communities.
• Ontario forests represent two per cent of the world's total and are home to approximately 85 billion trees. Of the 71 million hectares of forested land in Ontario, fifty-seven million, or 80 per cent, are publicly owned and known as Crown forest.

LEARN MORE

Read more about Ontario's forest sector

Anne-Marie Flanagan
Minister's Office
416-327-0655
anne-marie.flanagan@nullontario.ca.

Bradley Hammond
Minister's Office, MNR
416-314-2198
Bradley.Hammond@nullontario.ca.

Ministry of Northern Development, Mines and Forestry
ontario.ca/north

++++++++

Press release

Canadian Forest Industry and Environmental Groups Sign World’s Largest Conservation Agreement Applying to Area Twice the Size of Germany

TUESDAY, MAY 18, 2010, Toronto/Montreal, Canada – Today 21 member companies of the Forest Products Association of Canada (FPAC), and nine leading environmental organizations, unveiled an unprecedented agreement – the Canadian Boreal Forest Agreement – that applies to 72 million hectares of public forests licensed to FPAC members. The Agreement, when fully implemented, will conserve significant areas of Canada’s vast Boreal Forest, protect threatened woodland caribou and provide a competitive market edge for participating companies.

Under the Agreement FPAC members, who manage two-thirds of all certified forest land in Canada, commit to the highest environmental standards of forest management within an area twice the size of Germany. Conservation groups commit to global recognition and support for FPAC member efforts. The Agreement calls for the suspension of new logging on nearly 29 million hectares of Boreal Forest to develop conservation plans for endangered caribou, while maintaining essential fiber supplies for uninterrupted mill operations. “Do Not Buy” campaigns by Canopy, ForestEthics and Greenpeace will be suspended while the Agreement is being implemented.

“The importance of this Agreement cannot be overstated,” said Avrim Lazar, President and CEO of FPAC. “FPAC member companies and their ENGO counterparts have turned the old paradigm on its head. Together we have identified a more intelligent, productive way to manage economic and environmental challenges in the Boreal that will reassure global buyers of our products’ sustainability. It’s gratifying to see nearly a decade of industry transformation and hard work greening our operations, is culminating in a process that will set a forestry standard that will be the envy of the world.”

Environmental groups, including the three organizations that have been mobilizing large customers towards green products, say the coming together of two traditional adversaries reflects a new commitment to a common goal.

“This is our best chance to save woodland caribou, permanently protect vast areas of the Boreal Forest and put in place sustainable forestry practices,” said Richard Brooks, spokesperson for participating environmental organizations and Forest Campaign Coordinator of Greenpeace Canada. “Concerns from the public and the marketplace about wilderness conservation and species loss have been critical drivers in arriving at this agreement. We have a lot of work to do together to make this agreement successful and we are committed to make it happen.”

Also vital to the agreement have been the efforts of the Pew Environment Group and Ivey Foundation, which worked to support the two sides coming together and to facilitate the negotiations.

“For years we have helped bring opposing parties together to conserve this global treasure, Canada’s boreal forest,” said Steve Kallick, director of the Pew Environment Group’s International Boreal Conservation Campaign. “We’re thrilled that this effort has led to the largest commercial forest conservation plan in history, which could not have happened without both sides looking beyond their differences. As important as today’s announcement is, our ultimate success will be measured by how we tackle the work ahead to put this plan into practice.”

The Agreement identifies explicit commitments for both sides and sets out a plan, which includes:
• The development and implementation of world-leading forest management and harvesting practices;
• The completion of joint proposals for networks of protected areas and the recovery of species at risk including woodland caribou;
• A full life cycle approach to forest carbon management; and
• Support for the economic future of forest communities and for the recognition of conservation achievements in the global marketplace.
Signatory environmental organizations, FPAC, and the Association’s companies have begun meetings with provincial governments, First Nations and local communities across the country to seek their leadership and full participation in advancing the goals of the Agreement. Participants recognize that governments, including First Nation governments, are decision makers within their jurisdictions. The Agreement recognizes that aboriginal peoples have constitutionally protected aboriginal and treaty rights that must be respected and engaged in order for the Agreement to fulfill its objectives.

The progress made to reach the objectives laid out in the Canadian Boreal Forest Agreement will be regularly measured and reported on by a jointly agreed-upon independent auditor.

Forestry Companies Participating in the Agreement:
AbitibiBowater, Alberta Pacific Forest Industries, AV Group, Canfor, Cariboo Pulp & Paper Company, Cascades Inc., DMI, F.F. Soucy, Inc., Howe Sound Pulp and Paper, Kruger Inc., LP Canada, Mercer International, Mill & Timber Products Ltd, NewPage Port Hawkesbury Ltd, Paper Masson Ltee, SFK Pulp, Tembec Inc., Tolko Industries, West Fraser Timber Co. Ltd, Weyerhauser Compnay Limited−all represented by the Forest Products Association of Canada.

Environmental Organizations Participating in the Agreement:
Canadian Boreal Initiative, Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society, Canopy (formerly Markets Initiative), the David Suzuki Foundation, ForestEthics, Greenpeace, Ivey Foundation, The Nature Conservancy, and the Pew Environment Group’s International Boreal Conservation Campaign. The Hewlett Foundation’s support for boreal forest conservation has been critical to the collective efforts of these groups.

30 -

CONTACT:
Forest Products Association of Canada: Monica Bailey, 613-563-1441
Canadian Boreal Initiative: Suzanne Fraser, Director of Communications: 613-552-7277
Canopy: Nicole Rycroft, Executive Director: 778-987-9099
CPAWS: Ellen Adelberg, Director of Communications and Marketing: 613-292-2875
David Suzuki Foundation: Jode Roberts, Communications Specialist: 647-456-9752
ForestEthics: Todd Paglia, Executive Director: 416-527-2284
Greenpeace: Alex Paterson, Media & Public Relations: 416-524-8496
The Ivey Foundation: Tim Gray, Program Director: 416-867-9229
Pew Environment Group: Elyssa Rosen: 775-224-7497
The Nature Conservancy: Aaron Drew, Media Relations: 720-425-3930