Forest industry, contributing to the green economy

During the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development

(Rio+20), FAO, ICFPA and Bracelpa will organise a joint

international seminar on forest industry activities to build

a green economy, scheduled to occur on June 18th at Ribalta

Eventos. Discussions will focus on the contributions of forests in

social development and the eradication of poverty. Rio+20 will be

held between June 13th and 22nd, in Rio de Janeiro (Brazil),

and its main event will be the meeting of Head of States, over the

last three days of activities.

ICFPA: 10 years of sustainable development in the forest, wood and paper sector . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

The Forest Sector contribution to Rio+20 Conference . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

COP-17 - The show will go on … and forest accounting is fixed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

America’s Corner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Asia’s Corner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Europe’s Corner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

South Africa’s Corner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

South Pacific’s Corner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

Calendar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

Be Prepared! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

TABLE OF CONTENTS

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ICFPAUPDATE

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ICFPAUPDATE

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Issue 7 - March 2012

ICFPA: 10 years of sustainable development in the forest, wood and paper sector

This year, ICFPA will be 10 years old . It was born in Rome, Italy, on April 24th 2002, at a time when 36 trade associations from six continents formalized their networking. A united voice went global.

But it all started before 2002 . National and regional associations on forest, wood and paper initiated a regular dialogue in 1996 to share their common concerns and their best commonalities .

The first official act was a common position against illegal logging.

Sustainability is at the heart of ICFPA activities. Already in 2002, the association presented its first sustainability profile at the Rio+10 Conference in Johannesburg (South Africa) . In 2006, 60 CEOs signed in Rome a Sustainability Statement where they committed to six key principles. The statement carries 95 signatures today. Progress on those commitments is published every two years in an ICFPA sustainability update report .

Climate change was identified early on as a key issue for the forest and forest-based industries due to the unique role forests play in mitigating climate change. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change clearly confirmed that role in its 4th Assessment Report when concluding that “A sustainable forest management strategy (…) will generate the largest sustained [climate] mitigation benefit”. In 2005, ICFPA published its “Calculation tools for estimating Greenhouse Gases emissions from pulp and paper mills”, signalling the industry’s contribution to a climate solution.

We believe that our industry model has the answer to many of the problems the world is currently facing . Sustainable forest management and sustainable processes place our companies at the centre of the relationship between forest practices, food production, bioenergy production and land use choices . Furthermore, we are able to satisfy consumer requirements for products that respect nature while meeting their needs. The biennial International CEOs Roundtable organized by ICFPA has the precise objective of taking stock of the industry trends and the industry’s ability to address global issues of sustainability and its commercial importance .

In a globalised world, where scarce resources, high population and government interference are dominant factors, a common approach is decisive . In its 10 years of existence, ICFPA has evolved into a recognised partner on the global scene. The next step is to professionalise its structure through a membership fee.

In the coming 10 years our association will be what our members want it to be . A united voice at global level will support global business and help to create a favourable policy environment for our companies to operate and thrive in .

Teresa Presas is the president of ICFPA and Director General of the Confederation of European Paper Industries (CEPI)

EDITORIAL

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SUSTAINABILITY

The Forest Sector contribution to Rio+20 ConferenceThe United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development, Rio+20, from June 13th till June 22nd, will focus on two themes: a green economy in the context of sustainable development, poverty eradication and the institutional framework for sustainable development.

In preparation to this important event, ICFPA contributed with a written submission to the substantiation of the Conference’s content. The document emphasized the role that forest products industries can play in a green economy .

Commonly agreed definitions of “green economy”1 include elements that are already today mirrored by the forest product industries:

• Delivery of better returns on natural, human and economic capital investments;

• Reduction of greenhouse gas emissions;

• Resource efficiency;

• Waste reduction;

• Reduction of social disparities .

Through numerous commitments and actions, the industry demonstrates on a daily basis its contribution to the green economy from the “cradle” to the “grave” of its products .

In the written submission, ICFPA highlights some of the key performance indicators that were reported in its last Sustainability Progress Update .

Since 2000, ICFPA members have realised a 346% increase in the total area of certified responsibly managed forests, reaching a level of 273 million hectares of forests certified. 53% of the wood supply used by ICFPA member companies was certified in 2010.

It sustains social and society’s well-being, notably thanks to its products. It is a truly bio-based and resource efficient industry that provides jobs to local communities, especially in rural areas . In 2009, the global recovery rate for paper reached 55 .6%, compared to 46 .5% in 2000 .

As stated in the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change 4th Assessment Report: “A sustainable forest management strategy aimed at maintaining or increasing forest carbon stocks, while producing an annual sustained yield of timber, fibre or energy from the forest, will generate the largest sustained mitigation benefit.” The industry has also notably reduced its direct greenhouse gas emissions per ton produced by 8% between 2004 and 2009 .

The global forest product industries represented by ICFPA strongly believe that these achievements are giving it already today a very prominent role in the green economy and are convinced that they can further improve if the right enabling conditions are established .

As a conclusion, the Global Forest Products Industries represented by ICFPA fully supported in its written submissions the recommendations listed in the co-chairs’ summary of the country-led initiative “Contribution of forests to a green economy”, which took place in Bonn on 4 to 7 October 2011. Namely, that further action is needed to:

• Ensure that the tools used to enhance and demonstrate the sustainability of forest management and production processes – including third-party verified forest certification – are guaranteeing fair competition with sectors using other resources, fair trade between countries and are not used as non-tariff barriers to trade or as a deterrent to the use of wood .

• Promote public-private partnerships to strengthen dialogue and information flows between science and practice along the entire value chain, with a view to support the transformation of the industry and enhance its contribution to the “green economy”.

• Dedicate seed funds from the public and/or private sector in order to (i) help local communities to develop businesses and have access to the markets, and (ii) support pre-competitive research and development for innovation .

• Ensure transparency and fairness on the markets for forest products and services, including for its raw materials (both from the forests and secondary raw materials); transparency should also apply to ownership and tenure right as a preliminary condition to a stable and predictable business environment .

• Promote the potential of harvested wood products as long-term carbon storage and as substitute to other less climate and/or environment friendly materials .

1 UNEP Green New Deal.

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The show will go on … and forest accounting is fixedNegotiations on climate conferences have two tracks – the Kyoto Protocol track for the signatory countries of the document, and the Long Term Cooperative Action track for all countries worldwide, the so-called LCA track.

As the current Kyoto Protocol is scheduled to end in 2012, key discussions during COP-17, in Durban (South Africa), on December 2011, were on how (or if) to develop a successor to the Kyoto Protocol (KP2). Celebrate a new agreement by 2013 is impossible, simply because countries will not be able to sign the agreement on time . That, of course, generates a potential gap between the first and second KP. Questions on the table were on how to format the next protocol, when would the work be ready and how long would the next agreement last?

Problems emerged from different countries . The United States did not sign the Kyoto Protocol, Canada pulled out, although it ratified the first protocol . Other large economies indicated that they

would not commit themselves, unless all major emitters would join – a very unlikely situation. The European Union (EU) indicated its preference to have a second Kyoto Protocol, but only if major economies made comparable commitments .

During a hectic session, Canada pulled out in the last weekend of the convention, however a final consensus was reached . It was called the Durban Outcome (after the Bali Roadmap, Copenhagen Accord and the Cancun Agreement) . Congratulations can be given to Connie Hedegaard, the EU Climate Action Commissioner, for actively stewarding an agreement, and to Christiana Figueres, Executive Secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), together with Maite Nkoana-Mashabane, the South African COP President, for keeping the process alive.

The major decision taken in Durban was to start the process for a successor to the Kyoto Protocol. Countries agreed in Durban to hold more meetings to reach consensus for the future. As expectations were low to begin with, it can be called a success. The so-called “Durban Platform For Enhanced Action” will be a roadmap for a

legal framework, with the objective of finding an eventual successor to the Kyoto Protocol by 2015.

On a global scale, the major step forward was that it became possible to discuss reduced commitments not only for developed countries, signatory parties to the Kyoto Protocol, but also for all UNFCCC countries and large developing countries such as China and India .

An agreement was finally reached on Land Use, Land-Use Change and Forestry (LULUCF), with the objective of formally accounting, among other items, emissions and removals from forests and forestry management .

Agreement was also reached on a Green Climate Fund for which some countries started to pledge financial contributions, the adaptation and technology mechanisms to support mitigation and adaptation through the development and transfer of technology .

Maite Nkoana-Mashabane, the South African COP President

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The discussion at COP 17 focused on developing a successor to the Kyoto Protocol

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BRAZIL - BracelpaCarbon Credits and BiotechnologyBracelpa’s presence at Rio+20 has two goals: promoting forestry carbon credits, so that this mechanism is included in the Brazilian strategies to meet voluntary commitments for mitigating climate change impacts, and expanding the debate about the use of biotechnology – which will be essential to supply the increasing demand for food, biofuels, fibers and forests. For the industry, these two topics should be assimilated by the federal government and inserted into the global agenda and on the Conference’s official negotiation documents.

From June 13th to 22nd, the Brazilian government expects to receive approximately 50 thousand guests in the city of Rio de Janeiro, including Presidents and Prime Ministers of member-states of the United Nations, diplomats, journalists, businesspeople, politicians and representatives of civil society .

Improving PerformanceAt the end of last year, Bracelpa published its second edition of the Industry Sustainability Report, with 2010 consolidated data . The publication is primarily aimed at disclosing the evolution of the practices and performance of the member companies pursuing sustainable development . It was developed under the guidelines of the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) – an organization acknowledged worldwide for its consistent work in the creation of guidelines and indicators in this area . One of the highlights of this edition is the 10% growth in the participation of companies when compared to the previous report, published in 2010 . Overall, 22 companies provided information, totaling 60% of Bracelpa’s member companies .

The Report also brings 11 new GRI indicators, selected by the member companies, including initiatives to decrease energy consumption, volume of water used by source, practices for the maintenance of biodiversity, total emissions, volume of waste generated, and evaluation of suppliers’ sustainability . All in all, the companies provided answers to 30 GRI indicators. Access here the online version of the report .

Brazil – Finland meetingsBracelpa received in São Paulo, in February, a delegation of CEOs and Finnish forestry industry experts, lead by Timo Jaatinen, Director General of the Finnish Forest Industries Federation. This meeting was aimed at discussing the future of planted forests worldwide. The group attended lectures about the industry in Brazil and was introduced to renewable energy projects and those for using arboreal biotechnology on planted forests .

On the same day, the “Brazil-Finland Summit: Opportunities for Cooperation in Bioeconomy” was held, with the presence of Prime Minister Jyrki Katainen. During the event, Elizabeth the Carvalhaes, Bracelpa’s executive president, highlighted the importance of discussing Forestry Carbon Credit and Arboreal Biotechnology at multilateral forums, such as the United Nation Conferences .

CHILE - CORMAEXPOCORMA 2011 The 16th International Forestry Pulp and Paper Fair, EXPOCORMA 2011, from November 16th to 19th, last year, hosted more than 20,000 visitors and delegations from 20 countries in Concepción, the forestry Capital of Chile, consolidating its status as the main South American exhibit in the field of forest technology and knowledge.

The fair is held every two years and in 2011 was opened by the Minister of Agriculture, José Antonio Galilea and the President of Wood Chilean Corporation (CORMA) Fernando Raga, among other authorities .

As part of the activities that took place during the fair, CORMA’s Wood Technology Transfer Center (CTT) presented an innovative sustainable technology for the construction of bridges of post-tensioned wood . This initiative, along with a laminated wood manual, was presented to authorities as technical tools to promote the construction of better public infrastructure .

At the same time, more than 1,500 professionals, representatives of public and private forestry sector, participated in several seminars and workshops that were developed in parallel to the EXPOCORMA Fair, sharing and presenting updated information on different areas of forest production cycle .

AMERICA’S CORNER

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EU – CEPI Unfold the future of the forest fibre industry in 2050CEPI launched the Forest Fibre Industry 2050 Roadmap to a low-carbon bio-economy at the European Paper Week in Brussels, in November 2011. Received with an encouraging welcome, this CEPI Roadmap is a holistic exploration of the future of the sector. It examines the technical, financial and resource constraints which lie ahead, and the European Commission and member state policy frameworks which will be needed to tackle them. It is also a statement of ambition to be at the heart of the 2050 bio-economy and recycling society .

Notably, the CEPI Roadmap represents the first answer by any energy-intensive industry to the European Commission’s call for sector-specific similar materials to complement its own 2050 document . In the meantime, a Finnish Forest Fibre Roadmap has been published and other countries are working on a national version as well. The Roadmap is uniting the industry in a quest to build a better future for the industry .

View the video at www .unfoldthefuture .eu .

Sustainability – European paper industry achievementsSustainability is central to all European paper industry activities and a large proportion of its resources are devoted to ensuring the industry minimizes its environmental impacts across the European Union.

Considering this, CEPI’s 5th Sustainability Report shows that stakeholder involvement has been taken to a new level to include face-to-face discussions. And, in response to feedback from stakeholder meetings, more information on water, energy and recycling has been included in the latest report .

This issue presents concrete achievements:

• 80% of the wood used by CEPI members comes from CEPI countries;

• 61% wood virgin fiber used by the industry is certified, 5% more than in 2008;

• 94% of water used is returned to its source;

• 69% of the European Paper Recycling Rate: a world record!;

• 90% of newspapers and corrugated boxes are made from recycled fiber;

• 14% reduction in energy consumption since 1990;

• 58% fall of the accident rate since 1990 .

EUROPE’S CORNER

ASIA’S CORNER

JAPAN – JPAMoving toward less energy consumption and CO2 emissionsThe Japan Paper Association (JPA) conducted a follow-up survey on its “Committed Action Plan on Global Warming” for fiscal 2010 (fiscal year run from April 1st, 2010 to March 31st, 2011) .

Results show that the industry is actively and aggressively making sustainability efforts, highlighting that, in fiscal 2010, fossil energy consumption per ton of paper produced decreased by 25.4% in comparison with fiscal 1990 (and 4.2% in relation to the previous year) . Fossil energy derived from CO2 emission per ton of paper produced decreased by 22 .6% in relation to fiscal 1990 (and 5.1% in relation to the previous year). Also, the industry’s forest plantation area both in the country and abroad registered 691 thousand hectares at the end of fiscal 2010, having met the 99% target.

Under the Committed Action Plan, JPA has the following goals:

• On a five-year average basis from fiscal 2008 to fiscal 2012, reduce fossil energy consumption per unit and fossil energy derived CO2 emission per unit by 20% and 16% from the level registered in fiscal 1990, respectively;

• By fiscal 2012, expand the forest plantation area owned or managed by the industry at home and abroad to 700 thousand hectares .

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Young people live in a digital world where paper is key!CEPI conducted a survey among young Europeans (16-26 years old) on their use of and views on paper . The survey showed that 80 .5% of young people cannot live without paper . They prefer to use paper when it really matters and it is also linked to emotion, trust and organisation. Besides, 82 .7% believe that digital is easier to modify and, therefore, rely on paper to be more important from an ”official” perspective. In addition, 72% use paper daily to write on . The web is generally seen as more environmentally friendly than paper . This may well be because young people consider it to be ”free” or at ”no cost”.

CEPI Preliminary Statistics 2011 After the recovery in 2010 following the previous financial downturn, indications are that paper and board production by CEPI member countries fell in 2011 by close to 2%, as the momentum of the revival was affected by the economic slowdown, particularly in the second half of last year . It appears that the overall consumption of paper and board in CEPI countries in 2011 will decrease by between 1.5% and 2% when compared to 2010, based on the latest data from the third quarter.

Read more on the CEPI website at www .cepi .org .

Launch of the Bio-economy action plan The European Commission published its Communication on Bio-economy .

The Strategy “Innovating for Sustainable Growth: a Bio-economy for Europe” includes twelve concrete actions to be taken by the EU, Member States and Regions, within three crucial pillars:

1 . Investments in research, innovation and skills.

2 . Reinforced policy interaction and stakeholder engagement.

3 . Enhancement of markets and competitiveness in bio-economy sectors.

The Strategy will build on the 7th Framework Programme for Research, the future Framework Programme Horizon 2020, and other existing policy initiatives, such as the European Innovation Partnerships. Researchers, farmers, fishermen, foresters, industries and citizens at large will have a key role to play in its development in Europe and worldwide.

CEPI celebrates 20 years – Sharing a Vision This year marks the 20th anniversary of the Confederation of European Paper Industries (CEPI) . In 1992 the entity was formed through a merger of the Confédération Européenne de l’Industrie des Pâtes, Papiers et Cartons (CEPAC) and the European Paper Institute (EPI) . CEPI will celebrate this occasion with several events and projects throughout 2012 .

Using wood to reduce CO2 emissions The European Confederation of the Woodworking Industries (CEI-Bois) recently updated its “Tackle Climate Change: use Wood”, publication with the latest figures regarding the industry and the state of the forests.

The document stresses the fact that “Using wood offers a simple way to reduce the CO2 emissions that are the main cause of Climate Change, through the carbon sink effect of the forests, the carbon storage effect of wood products and the substitution for carbon-intensive materials . At the same time it puts the industry’s economic contribution in context.”

The updated version can be downloaded at www .cei-bois .org/en/publications .

AUSTRIA - AUSTROPAPIER“Printissimo/Emballissimo” prizes The paper industry provides us a versatile medium . But success in creating lively communication depends on a creative and skilful approach. “Printissimo/Emballissimo” prizes, an initiative of Austropapier, the Association of the Austrian paper industry, are intended to honor these achievements in a fitting manner . The prize is awarded for excellent printed products and innovative packaging solutions made of paper, board and corrugated board. The competition is open to international submissions as well. To qualify, the product must either be made from Austrian paper or the producer must be a company with a headquarter or subsidiary in Austria. Corrugated cardboard products qualify if they are made by a producer with an Austrian headquarter or subsidiary. For more information, access here .

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FINLAND – FINNISH FOREST INDUSTRIES FEDERATION2011 ResultsThe value of Finnish forest industry production grew to €20 .8 billion in 2011, up about 2% from the previous year . The value of the forest industry’s exports increased by 4%. Advance data indicates that the volume of wood products industry exports was up 4%, while exports of pulp and paper industry products remained on the previous year’s level. The early part of the year was positive for this country forest industry, but the European financial crisis depressed the industry’s production volumes towards the close of the year . The price of timber was higher than the long-term average and timber sales picked up pace in summer and towards the end of the year. The prices of energy and emission allowances decreased in the latter half of the year as a result of the economic crisis . “The forest industry’s products count among Finland’s most significant export articles and they are central to the maintenance of national prosperity,” says Timo Jaatinen, Director General of the Finnish Forest Industries Federation.

SPAIN – ASPAPEL Transparent CommitmentThe Spanish Association of Pulp and Paper Manufacturers (Aspapel) has just launched its new Sustainability Report . This third edition stands as a transparent evidence of the Spanish Pulp and Paper sector’s commitment to the social, economic and environmental facets that uphold sustainability . It contains the most complete information about the work carried out by the industry since the last edition, in 2008, and assesses the degree to which objectives have been accomplished and how the various indicators have evolved . To download the report, access: http://www .aspapel .es/en/content/sustainability-report-2011 .

SWEDEN – SFIFForest Industry WeekDuring the yearly Forest Industry Week, coming up in April 2012, seminars and meetings will be held in Stockholm during five days. On April 17th and 18th, the Swedish Federation (SFIF) will hold its own events . Among other speakers, Eskil Erlandsson, Minister of Rural Affairs, and Annie Lööf, Minister of Enterprise, will be guest speakers. HRH Prince Carl Philip will participate on April 17th .

Key ongoing issues are discussions on sustainable forestry and biological diversity. Sweden is a benchmark in the field and SFIF is active in the dissemination of knowledge of Swedish initiatives in forestry.

A new sustainability report on the entire industry will be published in November. The ongoing work addresses the evaluation of targets of the industry, CEPI Roadmap and the Swedish government’s Roadmap for 2050 . Vision, status and the contribution of the Swedish forest industry to a sustainable society are key subjects.

SOUTH AFRICA – PAMSAOne man’s waste is another man’s wealth

The Paper Recycling Association of South Africa (PRASA) participated in a Recycling Workshop hosted by the Nkonkobe Municipality, last February . More than 130 people from the impoverished community of Alice, in the Eastern Cape, attended the event . The initiative’s objective was to promote the collection, sorting and recycling of various materials as an income generating opportunity .

The workshop was fully supported and attended by officials of the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism, the Local Economic Development Forum, the Department of Education and students, municipal officials and ward councilors. The workshop also drew interest from the town’s newsprint and television media .

Types of paper that can and cannot be recycled were discussed . Attendees were taught how to sort various types of paper, e .g .,

packaging for cereals from larger corrugated cardboard boxes, newspapers from magazines and white office papers from colored papers, so as to maximize earnings per kilogram.

Feedback was extremely positive, with comments like “people came to share their knowledge because they care for the environment and for us”, “we need to do our part to take care of the environment”, and “rubbish is money”.

SOUTH AFRICA’S CORNER

The sweltering summer heat did not deter community members from learning about how they can earn money from recycling.

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NEW ZEALAND – NZ FOAFOA LeadershipAt the New Zealand Forest Owners Association (NZFOA) Annual General Meeting, last October, Peter Berg, long-serving President, handed over the reins to Bill McCallum, the general manager of Hancock Natural Resources Group. In 1999, when past president Peter Berg accepted nomination as FOA president, he was assured it would only be for a “year or two”. Twelve years later, he was relieved that a successor stepped forward . Highlights in Berg’s 12 years include the signing of the Forest Accord, the creation of an effective pan-industry body (Woodco), the successful battle for forest owners to have the right to participate in the Emissions Trading System (ETS) and the establishment of Future Forests Research .

Industry StrategyThe NZ pan-industry body Woodco – comprising representatives of FOA, Wood Processors Association, Pine Manufacturers Association, Forest Industry Contractors Association – has completed a final draft of a pan-industry strategy and this will be presented to industry at the Woodco Conference, ForestWood 2012, on March 21st, at Te Papa, in Wellington . The objective of the exercise is to improve financial returns for the industry and the economy and to ensure long-term sustainable growth. Research is an area where pan-industry collaboration is vital . FOA is reviewing its research and innovation strategy to focus on the factors that will enable managers to significantly increase the productivity of their forests.

ForestWood 2012The third ForestWood Conference being held on March 21st, at Te Papa, in Wellington, will be broken into three sessions intended to give everyone an insight into where the industry is headed. The first session will look at the main drivers of price and demand and culminate with the presentation of the Strategic Action Plan (mentioned above) . The seismic shifts session will hear about the transformation of the world’s pulp and paper industry, look into earthquakes around the globe and what can we learn from the response . Emerging technologies for engineered wooden buildings will also feature . The third session will focus on strategies for success and how to bring about positive behavioural and cultural change . For further information visit: www.forestwood.org.nz .

Presence at COP-17David Rhodes, Chief Executive, attended the United Nation Climate Change talks in Durban (South Africa), at the end of last year, as part of the New Zealand government delegation . For forestry and the FOA, the real game in COP-17 was the land use rules . Meanwhile, domestically, the government is reviewing the Emissions Trading Scheme . Forestry is recognised as having the potential to play an important part in New Zealand meeting its international commitments and some of the changes are expected to reduce carbon price volatility and improve the investment environment.

Commodity LevyFOA currently develops a proposal for a levy that would apply to all forest growers automatically rather than the current voluntary basis. If approved, it will be applied to harvested logs of all species, including export logs and logs processed in New Zealand. The main drivers for the levy are growing demands on FOA resources and the need to make forward financial commitments, especially to fund research. FOA is expected by forest owners, industry stakeholders and the government to drive cooperation within the sector and represent the sector in its interactions with the government and the community . At the moment, FOA and its sister organisation the NZ Farm Forestry Association do this work, but although they are well supported by the subscriptions and levies of those who choose to become members, many non-members also benefit.

The focus now is on regional meetings to discuss the proposal with all forest owners and to decide whether to proceed with the referendum .

Accord CelebratedThe 20th Anniversary of the signing of the NZ Forest Accord was held recently . Under the Accord, forest owners agreed not to clear native forests while conservationists acknowledged the important part plantation forests

SOUTH PACIFIC’S CORNER

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play in producing wood products on a sustainable basis . The Accord has created a great deal of mutual understanding, support and trust between forest owners and the environmental community .

Wood promotion2011 was a challenging year for many New Zealand, especially for those affected by the Canterbury earthquakes. Also, by some market challenges that still lie ahead. Nonetheless, we did enjoy a period of higher returns and as an industry we have made excellent progress on many fronts.

As reconstruction gets underway in Christchurch, following the devastating earthquakes experienced by the South Island’s biggest city, the forest industry is actively engaged in ensuring that the benefits of building in wood are appreciated . This is being driven through the NZWood programme and includes national media communications .

CalendarDRUPA Print Media FairMay 3rd to 16th Duesseldorf, Germanyhttp://www .drupa .com/

Austrian Paper ConferenceMay 22nd to 24th

Graz, Austriahttp://www.papierfachtagung.at/index.php

International Council of Forest and Paper Association MeetingMay 23rd to 25th Delhi, Indiawww .icfpa .org

Rio +20 – United Nations Conference on Sustainable DevelopmentJune 13th to 22nd Rio de Janeiro, Brazilhttp://www.uncsd2012.org/rio20/index.html

EU Sustainable Energy WeekJune 18th to 21st Europe,http://eusew .eu/

Austrian Paper DayJune 14th

Vienna, Austriawww .austropapier .at

World Water Week August 26th to 31st, 2012Stockholm, Swedenhttp://www.worldwaterweek.org/

FAO Committee on Forests (COFO)September 24th to 28th, 2012 Rome, Italyhttp://www .fao .org/forestry/cofo/en/

COP-11 to the Convention on Biological DiversityOctober 8th to 19th, 2012Hyderabad, Indiahttp://www .cbd .int/

European Paper Week November 13rd to 15th, 2012 Brussels, Belgiumwww .cepi .org/epw

UNFCCC COP-18November 26th to December 7th, 2012 Doha, Qatarhttp://unfccc .int/2860 .php

Be Prepared!

Please send your event details to info@icfpa .org10

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ICFPA - International Council of Forest and Paper IndustriesThe ICFPA is a worldwide network of forest and paper industry associations that was formed in 2002 to promote coop-eration in areas of common interest to its members and to serve as the industry’s advocate at the international level .

Emailinfo@icfpa .org

Webwww .icfpa .org

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