Consumables
UPM signs biodiversity leadership declaration at UN meeting in Bonn
Sunday 01. June 2008 - UPM has signed a Leadership Declaration as part of a "Business and Biodiversity Initiative" launched at the United Nation's Convention on Biological Diversity (UN CBD). UPM supports the UN CBD's aim of integrating the business sector to enhance biodiversity.
For one of the worlds leading forest products groups, UPM, signing the declaration is a natural step. Maintaining biodiversity has been an integral part of its operations for a number of years already. The company aims to minimize its impact on the environment by taking the whole life cycle of the product into account, from the choice of raw materials, sources of energy and production to disposal of the end product.
“Through this initiative we want to share our knowledge and experience on maintaining and increasing biological diversity by managing forests sustainably. By signing the declaration we want to emphasise that promoting biodiversity is part of our everyday operations,” says Mr Markku Tynkkynen, UPMs Executive Vice President, Business Functions and Resources.
Tangible proof of UPMs commitment to safeguard biodiversity is the global biodiversity programme developed for company forests in Finland, the UK, Canada and the US. The programme aims to maintain and increase biodiversity in forests as well as promote the best practices in sustainable forestry.
UPM’s global biodiversity programme has identified six key elements that are important for forest biodiversity in operations: native tree species, deadwood, valuable habitats, forest structure, water resources and natural forests. A global target has been set for each key element that will be implemented through country level targets and local action plans.
Other examples of UPM’s efforts to maintain and increase biodiversity include training of staff, creating an origin of wood tracing system and the creation of Repovesi National Park.