Canadian Forestry Leader Urges Ambitious Global Action to end Deforestation

Buenos Aires, Argentina (ots/PRNewswire) - Avrim Lazar,
President and CEO of the Forest Products Association of Canada (FPAC)
and Chair of the United Nations Advisory Committee on Paper and Wood
Products (ACPWP), came out yesterday in strong support of the WWF's
call-to-action to stop global deforestation saying the challenge
could go even further by including a call to end illegal logging -
one of the key contributors to global deforestation.

Speaking to over 6000 delegates from around the world at the
XIIIth World Forestry Congress in Buenos Aires, Mr. Lazar held up
Canada's environmental record in forestry as setting the standard for
excellence in sustainable forest management and the reduction of
GHGs.

"Communities that earn a living from the forests are compelled to
manage them sustainably. Canada understood this many years ago and
that is why today we have no net deforestation and no illegal logging
in our country. As the world's largest forest products exporting
nation, we depend too heavily upon the health of our forests to put
them at risk," said Mr. Lazar.

"We are supportive of WWF's initiative calling on others to
embrace a global target of zero net deforestation by 2020. The single
most powerful measure the world can take to address climate change is
to end deforestation. And the first step must be to take aggressive
action against illegal logging," said Mr. Lazar.

FPAC underscored the fact that it's more important than ever for
the world to understand the devastating social, economic and
environmental impacts of deforestation and illegal logging. Not only
does deforestation account for almost 20% of global greenhouse gas
emissions, but illegal logging greatly undermines the social and
economic prosperity of billions of people the world over.

The Canadian forest industry balances the needs of the people
with those of the environment. One in 25 working Canadians are
employed in the forest industry and it is the lifeblood of 300
communities nationally. At the same time its operations have reduced
GHG emissions by 60 per cent (ten times Kyoto requirements), while
increasing production by eight per cent.

It is also the first forest industry in the world to commit to
becoming carbon neutral through the supply chain, without the
purchase of carbon off-set credits, by 2015.

And Canada leads the way in sustainable forestry practices having
retained 90% of original forest area and is home to 40% of the
world's third-party certified forest land.

"The Canadian industry has demonstrated that even during
difficult economic times, it can set the bar high and realize
significant achievements. We encourage other nations to do the same,"
said Mr. Lazar.

FPAC is the voice of Canada's forest producers nationally and
internationally in government, trade and environmental affairs.
Canada's forest products industry is a $65-billion dollar a year
industry that represents 11% of Canada's manufacturing GDP. The
industry is one of Canada's largest employers, operating in hundreds
of Canadian communities and providing almost 250,000 direct jobs
across the country.

For further information: Ottawa: Monica Bailey, Manager, External
Relations, Forest Products Association of Canada, +1-613-563-1441
ext: 323, +1-613-878-4144, Monica.bailey@fpac.ca

ots Originaltext: Forest Products Association of Canada
Im Internet recherchierbar: http://www.presseportal.de

Contact:
For further information: Ottawa: Monica Bailey, Manager, External
Relations, Forest Products Association of Canada, +1-613-563-1441
ext: 323,
+1-613-878-4144, Monica.bailey@fpac.ca