Tembec receives FSC Certification for over 1 million hectares of forest in the Temiscamingue region
Temiscaming, Quebec,
August 24, 2006
– Tembec announced today that it has received FSC certification for over 1 million hectares related to two Forest Management Units (FMU) in the Temiscamingue region of Quebec. FMU’s 081-21 and 081-22 were certified in accordance with the rigorous standards of the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) for Canadian boreal and mixed wood forests.
The certification of those forests bring the total area under FSC certification to a total of 7.4 million hectares (18.3 million acres) of Canadian forest, which is equal to 71% of forest land, managed by Tembec. This level of certification is unparalleled in Canada, and makes Tembec the top company in the country and a world leader in FSC certification.
“This certification represents a well deserved recognition of the efforts our team has made over the past few years,” said James Lopez, Tembec’s President and CEO. “The certification of this section of mixed wood forest is indeed a great accomplishment, given the complexity of the management required and the great number of stakeholders involved. I am very proud of the leadership Tembec continues to show in promoting FSC certification both in North America and on a worldwide scale. It reflects our strong commitment to responsible resource management, both in terms of ecosystem management and the well-being of communities.”
Tembec received its certification from SmartWood, a Forest Stewardship Council accredited certifier, following an in-depth audit process that found that the Company’s forest management practices comply with FSC’s rigorous standards for environmentally and socially responsible forestry practices. Though awarded for a 5-year term, certification is not an end in itself. Follow-up audits will be conducted annually to ensure that ongoing forest management practices are consistent with FSC standards. Any practices inconsistent with FSC standards that are raised during the audits will be corrected within prescribed deadlines. Moreover, in order to be able to apply distinctive FSC labelling to their products, Tembec mills will need to develop a supply tracing system in order to earn a Chain of Custody Certificate, necessary to support the marketing of products generated by certified forests.
Founded in 1993, the Forest Stewardship Council is an international non-governmental organization that has developed the only forest certification system recognized worldwide by native peoples, environmental groups, labour organizations and industry. The certification system requires consultations with all forest users and stakeholders and guarantees the independent evaluation of forest management practices used by companies.
Tembec is a large, diversified and integrated forest products company. With operations principally located in North America and in France, the Company employs approximately 10,000 people. Tembec’s common shares are listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol TBC. Additional information on Tembec is available on its website at www.tembec.com
This press release includes “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of securities laws. Such statements relate to the Company’s or management’s objectives, projections, estimates, expectations or predictions of the future and can be identified by words such as “anticipate”, “estimate”, “expect” and “project” or variations of such words. These statements are based on certain assumptions and analyses made by the Company in light of its experience and its perception of future developments. Such statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, changes in foreign exchange rates, product selling prices, raw material and operating costs and other factors identified in our periodic filings with securities regulatory authorities in Canada and the United States. Many of these risks are beyond the control of the Company and, therefore, may cause actual actions or results to materially differ from those expressed or implied herein. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
Information:
Élaine Marchand
Coordinator
Forest Certification Tembec Inc., FRM-Quebec
Tel.: 819-333-8900 ext. 2226
Maia Becker
Manager of Communications and Client Services
Forest Stewardship Council Canada
Tel.: 416-778-5568 ext. 25
Marc Bouthillier
General Manager
Tembec Inc, FRM-Temiscamingue
Tel.: 819-726-2621 ext. 2236
Alexandre Boursier
Coordinator
SmartWood Canada
Tel.: 819-772-5740
Jamal Kazi
Lead Assessor
SmartWood Canada
Tel.: 418-724-5693
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION
Tembec is responsible for Forest Management Units 081-21 and 081-22 under a Timber Supply and Forest Management contract (CAAF) awarded by the Government of Quebec. These units cover over 1 million hectares and supply sawmills (Béarn, Témiscaming), a pulp mill (Témiscaming) and a laminated veneer lumber (LVL) plant (Temlam at Ville-Marie). The forest is located in the transition area between the biome of North America’s Eastern hardwood forest and the biome of the boreal forest to the North. This transition zone is characterized by variable climatic conditions which generate a great diversity of forest structures and composition. Tembec also uses the wood harvested in this area to supply several other non-company mills in the region with over twenty types of products and species.
The Temiscamingue region is one of the least urbanized regions in Quebec. The forest occupies 90% of the territory and 95% is public land. However, the territory has many stakeholders engaging in various activities. In addition to the four ZECs and 54 outfitting operations, there are a number of leases for vacation resorts and seasonal housing, as well as territorial trapping and maple sugar operations.
The certified territory is also located on the traditional lands of the Eagle Village, Wolf Lake, Long Point, Timiskaming, Kitcisakik and Lake Simon First Nations. Ancestral lands of the Algonquin-Anishnabe First Nations were not the subject of treaties or agreements to determine the scope of ancestral rights. However, current and past use of the land and the concerns expressed by these communities demonstrate both their historical interest in this territory and the role they intend to play in its management.
In January 2001, Tembec and WWF-Canada signed an agreement to implement sustainable forest management practices that comply with FSC standards. The range of FSC-certified products offered by the Company is continually increasing and now includes lumber, hardwood flooring, newsprint, paperboard, Northern Bleached Softwood Kraft (NBSK) pulp and high-yield pulp. When they see the FSC logo, Tembec customers know they are choosing forest products that come from well-managed forests and that they are thus contributing to preserving the world's forests.