Environmentalists Applaud Canada’s Largest Forest Company on Improved Logging Practices

For Immediate Release - Sept 6^th, 2011 – Toronto 

Today Canopy recognizes a significant step forward in Canada’s Boreal Forest as AbitibiBowater (NYSE: ABH) (TSX: ABH) announces a new Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certification. AbitibiBowater manages the largest area of publicly-owned forest in Canada. With the addition of this 2.5 million hectare tenure in Northern Ontario, approximately 1/3 of AbitibiBowater’s tenures are now FSC certified.

Both Canopy and AbitibiBowater are leading signatories to the Canadian Boreal Forest Agreement, which commits forest companies and environmental organizations to work together on a new win-win paradigm for the environment and economy by significantly increasing protected areas, safeguarding caribou, improving forest practices and securing marketplace recognition to increase forest sector viability and community wellbeing.

“It is a meaningful first step and as partners in the Canadian Boreal Forest Agreement we are applauding AbitibiBowater’s success in being awarded FSC certification for this portion of their Boreal Forest tenure,” said Amanda Carr, Canopy’s Campaign Director. “We are committed to continue our work in the marketplace to create positive conditions for strong environmental action, including protected areas and more FSC certifications.”

Environmentalists and forest companies agree that safeguarding Canada's Boreal Forest requires creating more protected areas and planning for the endangered woodland caribou, in addition to improving forest practices. Canopy and the 700 forest product customers we work with are paying close attention to anticipated early protected area proposals in two priority regions: Valley of the White Mountains in Québec, and Caribou Forest in Northwestern Ontario.  Forest product consumers are also closely tracking environmentalists' and First Nations' efforts to secure protection for 10-thousand hectares of ecologically rich forest in Québec's Broadback Valley.

“Global forest product customers are watching progress towards protection of the Boreal Forest,” said Nicole Rycroft, Executive Director of Canopy. “There is a lot more work to determine what to leave before we decide what to take. But when forests are cut, the marketplace wants environmental guarantees and the highest standard is FSC”.

Announced in May 2010 the Canadian Boreal Forest Agreement is the largest conservation initiative in the world, covering an area twice the size of Germany and endorsed by 21 forest companies and 9 environmental organizations.

For more information please contact:

Dave King, Communications Strategist, Canopy: 250-580-5583

Canopy is a non-profit environmental organization dedicated to conserving our world’s forests, species and climate. We work collaboratively with more than 700 North American authors, printers, book, magazine and newspaper publishers to create demand for a green supply chain. Canopy spearheaded the printing of Harry Potter on eco-papers, and is a driving force behind the Canadian Boreal Forest Agreement launched in May 2010.

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