Features Environment & Sustainability
AbitibiBowater increases its FSC-certified forest in Northern Ontario

AbitibiBowater has received Forest Stewardship Council® (FSC) certification for the Black Spruce and Dog River-Matawin Forest areas, north of Thunder Bay, Ont. This area covers approximately 2.5 million hectares of forest stretching from…

AbitibiBowater has received Forest Stewardship Council® (FSC) certification for the Black Spruce and Dog River-Matawin Forest areas, north of Thunder Bay, Ont. This area covers approximately 2.5 million hectares of forest stretching from Lake Nipigon to Quetico Provincial Park.

“This certification represents a major increase in the amount of forest AbitibiBowater now manages under FSC,” said Richard Garneau, president and CEO. “This effort is part of our ongoing strategy to meet market expectations as well as ensuring our commitment to sustainable forest management.”

The FSC certification process took more than a year to complete and the certification audit entailed four auditors interviewing stakeholders including local citizens committees, community leaders, First Nations communities, and various forest contractors working in the region. The two forest regions were certified by the SmartWood Program of the Rainforest Alliance using the National Boreal Standard of FSC.

AbitibiBowater produces a diverse range of products, including newsprint, commercial printing papers, market pulp and wood products. The Company owns or operates 18 pulp and paper mills and 24 wood products facilities located in the United States, Canada and South Korea.