PORTLAND, Ore., Oct. 24 /PRNewswire/ -- Willamette Industries (NYSE: WLL)
today announced that its 175,000 acres of Tennessee forest land have been
certified in compliance with the Sustainable Forestry Initiative Program(SM)
through independent third-party verification by PricewaterhouseCoopers.
The American Forest and Paper Association's Sustainable Forestry
Initiative defines a rigorous set of standards and practices which ensure that
forest lands are managed in a sustainable manner that is economically,
environmentally and socially responsible. Forestry and auditing experts found
Willamette in compliance with all of these standards after extensive field
review and detailed scrutiny of the company's forest management activities.
With the successful audit of their Tennessee Timberlands, Willamette
becomes one of the few major forest companies in the United States to have
their forest ownership independently third-party certified. In total, the
company owns 1.7 million acres. Willamette's forestlands in Oregon were
certified in September 1999. Forestland in North and South Carolina was
certified in August 2000, and all company land in Louisiana, Arkansas and
Texas received certification in September 2000.
"This is a significant milestone for our company," says Eddie McMillan,
Willamette executive vice president. "It is a clear statement to our
customers: 'When you buy Willamette products, you buy from a company who
cares about the future of forest resources and who is willing to submit their
forest management practices to a rigorous third-party audit process to verify
our sound, environmentally responsible approach to the production of wood
fiber.'"
Throughout the year-long process of auditing all 1.7 million acres,
Willamette has received consistent commendations for efforts to protect
streams and other water resources, for projects which enhance fish, wildlife
and endangered species habitat, and for their cooperative partnerships with
outside organizations formed to protect unique areas on company lands. In
addition, Willamette's Director of Forest Policy, Marvin Brown, says, "We have
learned a tremendous amount that will help us improve our performance even
more in the future." He states, "With the Sustainable Forestry Initiative
Program we are continuing a philosophy of constantly evolving and upgrading
the science and practice of environmentally responsible forest management."
Willamette Industries is an integrated forest products company with more
than 100 plants, located in the U.S., France, Ireland and Mexico. The company
owns 1.7 million acres of forestland in the U.S. and manages it sustainably to
produce building materials, composite wood panels, fine paper, office paper
products, corrugated packaging and grocery bags.
SOURCE Willamette Industries, Inc.
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Related links:
http://www.wii.com
Company News On-Call:
http://www.prnewswire.com/comp/971763.html or fax,
800-758-5804, ext. 971763
CONTACT:
Marvin Brown for Willamette Industries, Inc.,
803-802-8101
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