We, in the Northern Ontario Boreal , are not a Rainforest - however, according to today's paper (Chronicle -Journal, Thunder Bay, Ontario, February 6, 2013) page A7 NEWS: "Greenpeace applauds multinational forestry company move" NORTH SHORE BUREAU... wherein Greenpeace is going to use this action to push government and forest companies to suspend logging and protect endangered boreal forests of Canada. (Bringing up their war of words with Resolute.)
Asia Pulp and Paper has no love for Greenpeace.
On July 8, 2010, (Los Angeles CNW release:...APP (Asia Pulp and Paper Group) RESPONDS TO GREENPEACE' FALSE ACCUSATIONS ON INDONESIAN FORESTRY....calling them "UNEQUIVOCALLY INACCURATE AND DELIBERATELY MISLEADING CLAIMS"..."That undermine the company's efforts toward sustainable development."
Green peace's claim..."...APP of compromising the habitat of endangered animals such as the Sumatran Tiger."
Aida Greenburg, (Managing Director, Sustainability and Stakeholder Engagement for APP), responds:
"In a Pioneering Initiative that is a vital contribution to survival of the species, APP has set aside 261,930 acres (divide by 2.471 to convert to hectares) of production Forest to serve as the core of the Senepis Sumatran Tiger Sanctuary in Riau Province."
In 2010 APP " affirmed that sustainable operations are an integral part of APP's business model."
"We intend to be around for the long run and continue to grow in this Industry."
"One priority is to continuously work to ensure the sustainability of our raw materials for the future - in line with Indonesian government policies and regulations."
"APP has implemented stringent, rigorous, externally-audited Legal Origin Verification and Chain of Custody systems and protocols."
"APP's main pulp and paper mills successfully achieved CoC certification under Indonesian Eco-label Institute Certification program, while APP's main paper mills have also obtained Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC) CoC certification after a careful, independent review by accredited independent auditors."
"APP Headquarters are in China and Indonesia with markets in 65 countries across 6 continents."
Still continuing her explanation of APP's business in 2010:
"APP's production facilities are among the most advanced and environmentally efficient in the global pulp and paper Industry."
"The Company recognizes that a combination of social and economic best practices is the foundation for long-term business success, and is a leader in economic development in all the communities in which it operates."
And one final declaration:
"The APP Group operates within globally recognized and verified standards in all its production facilities , ensuring pulpwood suppliers meet stringent guidelines, guaranteeing sustainable forest management."
A fat lot of good that press release did the company as far as Greenpeace was concerned...
On January 23, 2012 Greenpeace launched an advertising campaign that labels Asia Pulp and Paper -"A Tiger Killer"
So, now, today, February 6, 2013, in the Chronicle -Journal, Thunder Bay newspaper, Greenpeace credits its ten year "public pressure" campaign with Asia Pulp and Paper's commitment to end "destructive" logging.
What Asia Pulp and Paper said was: it was committed to ending deforestation in Indonesia's Rainforest. and they released their Forest Conservation Policy. All "Natural Forest Clearance will be suspended while assessment takes place to identify a long-term management program.
#1. They will identify High Conservation Value Forests AND High Carbon Stock Forests (low Carbon value areas can be developed as plantations)
#2 There will be a Peatland Assessment
#3 Stakeholders consultations (Stakeholders being: civil society; indiginous people; local communities; local, national and international stakeholders; human rights and certification principles and criteria
#4 World fibre sources must have responsible Forest management
When one reads down to the end of the document on Rainforest Realities Site, you find this statement that sets Asia Pulp and Paper Group apart from the Canadian Forest Industry:
APP has sufficient plantation resources to meet its long-term demand.
And to reiterate: Greenpeace states today that they will use their momentum of APP's commitment to the Indonesian Rainforest to pressure all governments and logging companies in Canada to "protect the endangered forests of Canada's Boreal Forest", bringing up the name of Resolute as number one target.
Our logging companies do not have PLANTATIONS to fall back on.
If you have read my Post "Newspapers going green" you may remember that "plantations" are frowned upon by "civil society" .
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