A new deal between foresters and environmental groups will make it easier to find affordable, ethical forest products in Canada, says a major Canadian book publisher.
"It's hugely encouraging," said Random House executive director Louise Dennys. "For so many of us who have wanted to go this direction, it gives us a boost to know we'll be able to get there a lot faster."
The major conservation agreement -- which ensures best practices in forestry management and protects endangered woodland caribou in Canada's boreal forest -- was signed on Tuesday by 21 member companies of the Forest Products Association of Canada (FPAC) and nine environmental groups.
The Canadian Boreal Forest Agreement applies to 72 million hectares of forest currently licensed to member companies of FPAC. It calls for the immediate cessation of logging on the 29 million hectares of forest that support endangered caribou herds. On land not specifically managed for caribou, companies must implement principles of "eco-system based management," which will be certified by a yet-unnamed third party.
As part of the deal, environmental groups will immediately suspend "Do Not Buy" campaigns that boycott Canadian forest products.
In a statement, president and CEO of FPAC Avrim Lazar said that the agreement signifies "a more intelligent, productive way to manage economic and environmental challenges in the Boreal that will reassure global buyers of our products' sustainability."
According to Nicole Rycroft of Canopy, one of the environmental signatories, the agreement will encourage major wood and paper consumers such as Random House and Scholastic to use Canadian forest products. For a decade, Canopy has been asking the publishers to stop printing with materials harvested in endangered areas.
Rycroft said that once forestry companies meet the environmental commitments set out in the agreement, Canopy will begin promoting them.
"As the companies actually implement or achieve the conservation milestones, then we will reach out to a company like Random House and keep them apprised of the leadership and the advances that are being made," said Rycroft.
Robyn Smith is completing a practicum at The Tyee.
