Companies lauded for efforts in saving ancient forests

As ancient forests worldwide teeter on the verge of extinction, an environmental coalition recognizes those companies who have agreed to phase out their use

  June 5/00 - With a slice of a 1000 year old Douglas Fir tree from British Columbia as a backdrop, 16 Canadian companies received awards for their commitment to the world's ancient forests last week in Toronto from the Markets Initiative (MI) coalition - made up of the Forest Action Network, Friends of Clayoquot Sound, Greenpeace and the Sierra Club of BC.
  The coalition applauded the 16 recipients for wood and paper procurement policies that will eliminate their ancient forest products consumption over the next three years. Among the recipients were telecommunications giant Bell Canada, Kinko's Canada, Roots, and the financial institution Citizens Bank of Canada.
 

"The marketplace has tremendous influence in reducing resource consumption. Saving our ancient forest heritage will take acts of courage and vision, both from people in the streets and those in the boardroom." - Nicole Rycroft, MI Coalition

  "The recipients are corporate leaders in efforts towards conserving Canada's remaining ancient forests as well as those of the Amazon, Russia, and the rest of the world," said MI Coalition manager Nicole Rycroft. "The marketplace has tremendous influence in reducing resource consumption. Saving our ancient forest heritage will take acts of courage and vision, both from people in the streets and those in the boardroom."
  According to figures from Environmental Economics International, only 20 per cent of the world's ancient forests remain standing, with the majority of the world's land species making their home in these forests. In British Columbia alone, one in eight species have been listed at risk of extinction due to habitat destruction in places such as the Great Bear Rainforest and Clayoquot Sound. A BC Ministry of the Environment report released in April 2000 identified logging as one of the major threats to these species.
 

In British Columbia alone, one in eight species have been listed at risk of extinction due to habitat destruction in places such as the Great Bear Rainforest and Clayoquot Sound. A BC Ministry of the Environment report released in April 2000 identified logging as one of the major threats to these species.

  In a letter to the Markets Initiative, Bell Canada wrote "...It is our intention to favour those wood-based product suppliers who will have adopted sustainable practices which do not contribute to the destruction of irreplaceable natural treasures such as the ancient forests."
  These Canadian companies join hundreds of US and European companies - including Ikea and Home Depot - already committed to phasing out the use of ancient forest products.
  "By committing to not be a part of ancient forest destruction, these Canadian corporations join a growing global trend in corporate social responsibility," said Greenpeace Canada Executive Director Peter Tabuns, who helped present the awards. "We challenge companies like Xerox and Revy/Lansing Build-all, who have, so far, been lagging behind this growing trend, to catch up to today's industry leaders."
  Also recognized by MI last week were Body Shop Canada, Bristol-Myers Squibb Canada, Chesterman Property group, Clairol Canada, Communicopia, Happy Planet Food, Hollyhock, Husky Injection Molding, Mountain Equipment Co-op, Renewal Partners, Shared Vision Magazine, and the Vancouver Folk Music Festival.

Get More/Do More
Find out more from the Markets Initiative Coalition.

For more info on green certification check out the Forest Stewardship Council.

For information on ancient forests, visit Greenpeace Canada's website.

To find out how to recognize lumber from ancient forests, visit Greenpeace USA's website.

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