Greenbuilding Archive for March 2001

LONDON, UK — If managed correctly, one fifth of the world's forests could
provide the industrial wood and wood fibre necessary to meet projected
future needs, and just 10 companies can help make it happen, shows a new
report published today by WWF, the conservation organization.
According to WWF's report "The Forest Industry in the 21st Century", if the
ten global companies that dominate the industry were to adopt the effective
management processes of the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), the growing
demand of the world's consumers for wood products could be met by as little
as 600 million hectares of forest - about twice the size of India, or a
fifth of the world's forests.

The companies' support of FSC would provide the critical mass necessary to
change forestry practices worldwide, and halt the destruction of old growth
forests or fragile ecosystems. The report identifies close to 100 leading
companies who operate at a considerable scale, comparable with many
countries.

Among the top 10 companies listed by WWF, the five largest wood processing
ones are International Paper, Georgia Pacific, Weyerhaeuser, Stora-Enso and
Smurfit Stone Container. Between them, these five companies process around
twenty per cent of the world's industrial wood.

The five largest wood buyers are Home Depot, Lowes, IKEA, Kimberly-Clark and
Proctor & Gamble. Home Depot, Lowes and IKEA already actively support FSC
and Stora-Enso has FSC certification for its forests in Sweden. WWF is
calling upon the remaining processors and buyers to seek full FSC
certification and to take the lead in saving the world's forests.

"The findings of this report are very encouraging," said Dr Chris Elliott,
Director of WWF's Forest for Life Campaign. "But responsible forest
management is crucial. If the top ten global forestry processors and buyers
all insisted on FSC certification, this would be a big step towards securing
the future of the world's forests."

The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) was established in 1993 by WWF and
other organizations to certify forests and forest products as responsibly
managed.

Almost 700 companies that produce and use wood have now joined the Global
Forest and Trade Network of FSC supporters, co-ordinated by WWF. Over 20
million hectares of forest in 35 countries have been certified.

"But this progress only represents three per cent of the world's timber
producing forests," adds Dr Elliott. "WWF believes that the commitment of
all of the top ten companies would provide the incentive and the pressure to
make the industry change."

The benefits to industry are persuasive. Sustainable forestry would assure
raw material supplies for the future. It would also enhance the reputation
of the forestry industry and re-build the confidence of consumers and
investors.

Half of all the world's original forest cover has already been destroyed,
but rampant deforestation, widespread forest fires and illegal logging
continue. Protecting, managing and restoring the world's forests is the only
way to conserve the remaining half.

NOTES TO EDITORS

- The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), launched in 1993 with significant
support from WWF and many other organizations, has successfully established
itself as the international benchmark for forest independent certification
and product labelling. The FSC has now certified more than 20 million
hectares of forest in 35 countries.

- Forest and Trade Networks are now operating in North America, Austria,
Australia, Belgium, Brazil, France, Germany, the Nordic Countries (Sweden,
Denmark, Norway and Finland), the Netherlands, Spain, Switzerland and the
UK. At the current rate of growth there will be 1000 members by the end of
the year 2001 with Japan and Hong Kong soon to join the Network. Visit
www.panda.org/forestandtrade for more information on the Global Forest and
Trade Network.

- WWF's report "The Forest Industry in the 21st Century" can be found on
www.panda.org/forestandtrade




__________________

Jennifer Krill
Old Growth Field Campaigner
Rainforest Action Network
mailto:jkrill@ran.org
http://www.ran.org
415/398-4404 x 307




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