Stora Enso has released a statement outlining its position on wood sourcing from old-growth forests in northern Finland.
The company’s statement comes against a background of campaigning by environmental groups for further forest protection in Lapland. Groups have claimed that 300-year-old trees felled by state forester Metsähallitus have been found in log piles.
“Stora Enso’s position is that it can receive wood from those areas now addressed by the environmental organsiations, as they meet FSC Controlled Wood requirements,” said Stora Enso.
“Audits carried out by Stora Enso Wood Supply Finland in the logging areas confirm this.
The company said it does not buy wood from forests which have been defined as old-growth in a national stakeholder process.
Stora Enso said the European Commission recognised that Finland has achieved an adequate level of boreal forest protection.
It has discussed the matter with Greenpeace and Metsähallitus and is encouraging all relevant stakeholders to participate in face-to-face dialogue.
