FRA Lends Support to Greenpeace over APP sourcing

FRA has spoken out to support Greenpeace Southeast Asia in calling for more commitments from Asia Pulp & Paper (APP) over its use of rainforest-sourced timber in its products.

Forestry Research Analysis (FRA) has spoken out to support Greenpeace Southeast Asia in calling for more commitments from Asia Pulp & Paper (APP) over its use of rainforest-sourced timber in its products.

The statement from Greenpeace’s Bustar Maitar called for APP to make a firm commitment not to use rainforest timber. This follows reports that APP had teamed up with Swiss NGO, The Forest Trust, to try to improve the sustainability of its supply chain.

His statement said, "APP must immediately stop accepting timber from natural forest clearance and confirm that no expansion will take place unless that expansion and the rest of APP's production is wholly reliant on plantation fiber."

FRA, a research and analysis consultancy specializing in sustainable forestry investment issues, agreed adding: "We support Greenpeace's calls for more commitment from APP over its sourcing policies – until we see some concrete evidence that the firm has stopped using timber sourced from rainforests, many onlookers will be taking their plans with a pinch of salt."

Mr Maitar goes on to claim that the association with the Forest Trust is a "PR campaign", while FRA's analysis partner, Peter Collins, added that the issue was particularly concerning as a result of the firm's recent link with a new mill in Sumatra. This mill is expected to have the capacity to process two million tons of timber each year. "Indonesia's rainforest are extremely vulnerable and are still very much at threat from logging," added Mr Collins.

FRA is an advocate of sustainable forestry investment and promotes projects like those run by firms such as Greenwood Management in Brazil and elsewhere. "Investing in plantations projects that are managed on a cyclical model can help to reduce the pressure to use rainforest timber, by providing an alternative that is much less harmful to the environment," added Mr Collins.

Contact:

Peter Collins

Forestry Research Associates

620 Vineyard Lane

Bainbridge Island, WA 98110

(206) 316 8394