Stora Enso Oyj Press Release 21 September 2006 at 07:00 GMT
Stora Enso actively works to combat illegal logging wherever the Group operates and does not accept wood that is harvested in violation of national or state laws. For Stora Enso, traceability systems verifying the origin of wood are the most important tools to combat illegal logging, and they cover all wood used by the Group. Stora Enso Wood Supply Russia also has FSC controlled wood certification in place to secure that all wood is legally harvested.
Greenpeace publicized that Karelian authorities are issuing logging licences without Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs) as required by Russian federal law for forest management plans. It has been alleged that this wood is purchased by Finnish forest companies including Stora Enso.
Stora Enso only purchases wood from legal sources. All Stora Enso logging subsidiaries in Russia have EIAs in place for their leaseholdings with the exception of the most recently acquired subsidiary, which is commissioning one.
To help resolve the issue, Stora Enso has initiated a dialogue by asking the Karelian authorities to clearly state their position in this matter and the legal basis for it. Additionally, Stora Enso Wood Supply Russia will meet with Greenpeace Russia to discuss the questions around logging in the Russian Republic of Karelia. Stora Enso is of the opinion that the wood the company buys in Russia is legal. If the conclusion from this dialogue would be that some wood is illegally harvested, Stora Enso will immediately require changes and stop the purchase of such wood.
Stora Enso also supports the commitment of the Finnish Forest Industries Federation and WWF to combat illegal logging and timber trade through both public and private efforts.
For further information, please contact:
Kauko Parviainen, Senior Vice President, Stora Enso Wood Supply Russia, tel. +358 400 891 460
Helena Jantunen, Sustainability Manager, Stora Enso Wood Supply Russia, tel. +358 40 738 3421
Eija Pitkänen, Vice President, Sustainability Communications and CSR, tel. +358 2046 21348
