AbitibiBowater Announces Continued Progress Toward 100% Forest Certification Goal
ABH (NYSE, TSX)
Maniwaki, Québec recommended for CSA forest certification
MONTREAL, Sept. 9 /CNW Telbec/ - AbitibiBowater announced today that its
Maniwaki, Québec 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 Forestières 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.
AbitibiBowater produces a wide range of newsprint, commercial printing
papers, market pulp and wood products. It is the eighth largest publicly
traded pulp and paper manufacturer in the world. AbitibiBowater owns or
operates 27 pulp and paper facilities and 34 wood products facilities located
in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom and South Korea. Marketing
its products in more than 90 countries, the Company is also among the world's
largest recyclers of old newspapers and magazines, and has more third-party
certified sustainable forest land than any other company in the world.
AbitibiBowater's shares trade under the stock symbol ABH on both the New York
Stock Exchange and the Toronto Stock Exchange.
