AbitibiBowater, in partnership with Produits Forestiers Petit-Paris Inc. (PFPP), announced today that forest management units (27-51 and 24-51) in the Lac Saint-Jean region in Quebec have received certification to the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) standard. The certification covers over 6.1 million acres (close to 2.5 million hectares) of forestlands, making it the single largest FSC certificate to be issued in the province of Quebec to date. These forest management units supply fiber to the Company’s Girardville, Mistassini and Saint-Felicien sawmills; the PFPP joint-venture sawmill; seven AbitibiBowater value-added and engineered wood products facilities (including partnerships); as well as the Company’s Alma and Kenogami paper mills.
“The FSC certification of these Quebec woodlands provides an additional independent confirmation of the sustainability of our forest management practices and underscores our commitment to the natural resources under our care,” said David J. Paterson, President and Chief Executive Officer.
As previously announced on September 3, 2008, AbitibiBowater is committed to expanding on its inclusive approach to the predominant third-party sustainable forest management (SFM) certification standards. The centerpiece of this commitment is a Company-wide promise to maintain 100% third-party SFM certification of all its managed woodlands. In addition to the FSC certification received today in Quebec, the Company continues to pursue FSC certification initiatives in other management units in Quebec, Ontario and Nova Scotia. AbitibiBowater will also expand audited FSC Chain-of-Custody certifications at a number of Company operations.
FSC is an independent, non-governmental, not-for-profit organization established to promote the responsible management of the world’s forests. AbitibiBowater received its certification from the Rainforest Alliance SmartWood(TM) Program, an FSC-accredited certifier.
