Old-growth forest 

Stora Enso is committed to protecting and restoring old-growth forests and we have supported many multi-stakeholder processes to do so, especially in Northern Finland. We do not purchase wood from protected areas, old-growth forests or high conservation value forests, as defined in national stakeholder processes.

An old-growth forest is characterised by a combination of very old and large trees, vast amounts of decaying wood and large species composition relative to the surrounding ecosystem.

Defining old-growth forests
There are numerous other definitions for old-growth forests. Old growth is an ecosystem-specific condition and must be identified using local criteria.

In each region, we apply definitions that have been agreed upon in national stakeholder processes where representatives from a wide range of interest groups have participated.

Ensuring sustainable practices
Our global wood procurement principles, traceability systems and active promotion of forest certification are all important tools ensuring that wood from valuable old-growth forest does not enter our possession.