China takes crucial step for responsible forest management - June 25th, 2007

Bonn, Germany, June 25th, 2007

The International Board of Directors of the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) has announced the accreditation of the Forest Certification Working Group in China as the official FSC National Initiative in China (FSC China). FSC is the only internationally recognized standard setting organization for environmentally and socially responsible and economically viable forest management. This brings the number of FSC accredited National Initiatives to 43 globally.

The accreditation ceremony took place at the Cui Ming Zhuang Hotel in Beijing, China, on Monday June 25th. Many key stakeholders from China and Asia attended the ceremony that preceded an interactive workshop with FSC International policy makers.

FSC China will promote responsible forest management. Its key activities will be to promote FSC Chain of Custody certification for the timber manufacturing industry and lead the development of China’s national FSC standards. FSC Chain of Custody certification is the guarantee for traceability of FSC certified timber through the production process. It is a prerequisite for labeling any FSC product.

FSC Chain of Custody certification in China is growing faster than anywhere else in the world. To date over 300 companies in China hold an FSC certificates.

‘China is a key player in global wood products trade and manufacturing. There is an enormous opportunity for Chinese businesses together with FSC to transform the national and international wood products trade into a responsible trade, while at the same time capturing additional value and protecting the world’s forests. We are very impressed by the unprecedented growth in FSC Chain of Custody certificates in China and the fast and dynamic development of FSC China.’ said Mr. Grant Rosoman, Chairman of the FSC Board of Directors.

‘The accreditation of FSC China is a crucial milestone in the progress of responsible forest management and certification in China. It is the outcome of dedicated collaboration by stakeholders across all sectors. We look forward to now implementing our work plan and actively promoting forest certification in China.’ comments Wang Xiaoping, Director of the Preparation Group of Forest Certification Working Group in China.

China’s State Forest Administration (SFA), the Chinese Academy of Forestry (CAF), WWF China and many others were instrumental in setting up FSC China - a unique multi-stakeholder forum in China with over 120 representatives from economic, social, environmental, academic and governmental sectors.

More than 90 million hectares of forests and plantations are certified to FSC standards in 79 countries worldwide. In China more than 700’000 hectares of forest are currently FSC certified.

For further information, pictures, background material and interviews please visit www.fsc.org or contact:

• Alistair Monument, Technical Director, FSC China: Tel. +86 13608967508; china@fsc.org,

• Nina Haase, Communications Manager, FSC International Center, Bonn, Germany: Tel. +49 160 966 594 90; n.haase@fsc.org

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