HSBC has published forest lending guidelines as part of its commitment to the environment in its “Investing in Nature” partnership with WWF.
HSBC intends to promote lending and other forms of financial assistance to forestry industries that practice good forest management. Financial assistance to those that fail to follow a credible path to FSC or equivalent forestry practices will be reviewed.
Tessa Robertson, head of WWF’s forest programme, said: “WWF has been pushing the financial sector to agree to sound financial lending policies and guidelines for many years. We hope the guidelines will have a very positive impact on the forest sector and that other financial institutions will follow suit.”
