Resolute Forest Products (RFP) and the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) are pleased to announce that Resolute has become the largest manager of Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified forests in the world.
The company recently certified 3.2 million hectares (7.9 million acres) of forestlands in the Lac-Saint-Jean region of Quebec to the FSC Boreal Standard. This certification raises the total area of Resolute-managed FSC-certified forests in North America to 10.3 million hectares (25.6 million acres), an area twice the size of Nova Scotia and larger than Portugal, Hungary or South Korea.
“Becoming the world’s largest FSC holder is a major milestone in our efforts to become a positive force for sustainability within the forest products industry,” stated Richard Garneau, Resolute’s President and Chief Executive Officer. “Resolute’s growing commitment to FSC complements other key sustainability initiatives, including the company’s membership in WWF’s Climate Savers Program, which helps companies set and achieve ambitious emission reduction targets, as well as membership in the landmark Canadian Boreal Forest Agreement.”
FSC is an international certification and labeling system dedicated to promoting responsible management of the world’s forests. Co-founded in Canada by WWF in 1993, FSC works to promote environmentally appropriate, socially beneficial and economically viable management of the world’s forests. FSC is an important example of how environmental organizations and businesses can work together to conserve important regions and wildlife while ensuring long-term success for industry.