Consumables
ABITIBIBOWATER ANNOUNCES CONTINUED PROGRESS TOWARD 100% FOREST CERTIFICATION GOAL
Wednesday 10. September 2008 - Maniwaki, Quebec recommended for CSA forest certification
AbitibiBowater announced today that its Maniwaki, Quebec woodland operations received a favorable recommendation toward CSA forest certification. This development marks continued progress towards the Company’s commitment of certifying 100% of its woodlands by the end of 2008.
With this recommendation, 97.4% of the Company’s woodland operations will be certified to independent, internationally recognized standards, representing over 18.8 million hectares (46.5 million acres). AbitibiBowater has more third-party certified sustainable forest land than any other company in the world.
This CSA certification will be granted to AbitibiBowater and Les Entreprises Forestieres Mitigog Inc, an aboriginal business of the Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg community. The two companies are seeking this certification jointly.
“The certification of the Maniwaki woodland operations demonstrates AbitibiBowater’s ongoing commitment to implement sustainable forest management standards in all of the Company’s facilities by the end of 2008,” commented David J. Paterson, President and Chief Executive Officer. “These results are a testimony that our forest management practices are sustainable for the long run. AbitibiBowater is proud of its continued industry leadership in achieving third-party certification.”
This newly recommended certification applies to managed Crown land in the Outaouais region, covering a total area of 1.6 million hectares (3.8 million acres). QMI SAI Global, who recommended the forest be registered under the CAN/CSA-Z809 Sustainable Forest Management Standard, conducted the audit of this area.
Certification under this standard demonstrates a commitment to continuous improvement in forest management performance. The certification process requires independent experts audit the company’s performance against a set of objective standards and procedures for sustainability.