Stora Enso does not destroy old-growth forests 

 

Stora Enso does not destroy old-growth forests, as was claimed by Greenpeace earlier today. According to the Group's wood procurement principles, Stora Enso does not purchase wood from old-growth forests as defined in national stakeholder processes, unless the purchases are clearly in line with the national conservation regulations. 

 

Stora Enso is not the primary operator in Northern Finland. The Finnish State through its enterprise Metsähallitus owns and logs forests in the region. These areas in Forest Lapland have not been defined as old-growth in the national stakeholder process. According to the Finnish Ministry of the Environment, the ecological values of Forest Lapland have been safeguarded through an extraordinary network of conservation and wilderness areas which exceeds international requirements. In addition, the forest industry is a significant employer and generator of economic welfare in Lapland.

 

Stora Enso will handle the question of wood procurement from Forest Lapland at its Annual General Meeting on 29 March 2007, as proposed by three shareholders.

 

For further information, please contact:

Matti Karjula, Senior Vice President, Stora Enso Wood Supply Finland, tel. +358 40 520 62 40

Eija Pitkänen, Vice President, Sustainability Communications and CSR, tel. +358 2046 21348

 

 

Please see the press release regarding Annual General meeting at www.storaenso.com/press

- 7 February 2007 Stora Enso's Board proposals to the Annual General Meeting