Page - September 24, 2008
<p>AbitibiBowater is one of the worst logging companies in terms of protecting forests. Less than three per cent of the land under AbitibiBowater’s management is protected from logging in Quebec and less than six per cent in Ontario. Over 75 per cent of the company’s logging territory in Québec and Ontario are fragmented.</p>
The remaining intact areas of Canada’s Boreal Forest must be protected — both to help avert catastrophic global warming, and to protect the Boreal Forest from global warming’s intensifying impacts.
Greenpeace's Demands of Abitibibowater
- Suspend all logging in intact forest areas.
- Identify zones of ecological importance, including woodland
caribou habitat, and work with governments and NGOs to create a
network of protected areas that include these zones.
- Certify all operations including mills and product line to the
Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) standard - a mark of responsible
forestry.
- Commit to not pursuing new licenses in previously unallocated
areas of the forest.
- Inform, involve and gain the consent of First Nations peoples
before logging on their traditional lands.
Less than five per cent of the Boreal Forest in Québec and less
than 10 percent in Ontario, is protected from industrial
exploitation.
AbitibiBowater exploits areas that are especially important for
the survival of species with large ranges such as the woodland
caribou, a species classified as vulnerable in Québec and
threatened in Canada. Scientific research has shown that numerous
protected areas, varying from 5,000 to 7,000 km2, must be created
in the Boreal Forest in order to save this species.
AbitibiBowater sells nearly 10.1 million tonnes of newsprint,
coated and uncoated paper, and paper pulp every year.
Timeline of Greenpeace Pressure Tactics
| June 2003 |
Greenpeace starts talks with
Abitibi-Consolidated (predecessor company to AbitibiBowater) and
asks the company to show leadership to protect the Boreal
Forest. |
| May 2005 |
Despite numerous meetings,
Abitibi-Consolidated takes no appreciable measures to protect the
forest, and Greenpeace puts an end to talks. |
| July 2007 |
Greenpeace climbers hang a massive banner
from Abitibi-Consolidated's Montréal headquarters. |
| August 2007 |
The report Consuming Canada's Boreal Forest
is released and publicly names customers of destructive logging
companies such as Abitibi-Consolidated and Bowater. |
| September 2007 |
A Greenpeace maritime blockade at the port
of Grande-Anse intercepts a shipment for SFK Pulp, an important
Abitibi-Consolidated customer. |
| October 2007 |
A shipment of newsprint from
Abitibi-Consolidated is targeted by a maritime blockade in the
Netherlands. |
| October 2007 |
Merger between Abitibi-Consolidated and
Bowater is completed. AbitibiBowater is formed. |
| November 2007 |
Greenpeace tours Europe to meet with
several AbitibiBowater customers. |
| January 2008 |
Many purchasers of newsprint, catalogue and
circular paper reduce their orders or cancel their contracts with
AbitibiBowater. AbitibiBowater loses more than $10 million. |
| March 2008 |
A protest targeting AbitibiBowater
customers takes place at Toronto's Eaton Centre. |
| June 2008 |
After more than a decade of controversy and
an international campaign, AbitibiBowater announces that they will
stop logging in the Whiskey Jack Forest which includes the
traditional terrirotory of the Grassy Narrows First Nation.
Greenpeace congratulates AbitibiBowater for this action. |
| August 2008 |
After meeting for several months with
Greenpeace and a mediator, AbitibiBowater confirms that won't stop
logging intact forest areas in Québec and Ontario. |
| September 2008 |
Ads targeting AbitibiBowater are published
in the Globe and Mail and Les Affaires. |
| Currently |
Greenpeace continues to raise awareness and
mobilize AbitibiBowater's customers and shareholders. |