Arkhangelsk Pulp-and-Paper Mill and Titan Group support SPNR creation in-between Severnaya Dvina and Pinega

Arkhangelsk Pulp and Paper Mill JSC and Titan Group support the creation of a specially protected natural reservation (SPNR) in-between the Severnaya Dvina and Pinega Rivers and intend to implement all intact forest landscape (IFL) conservation agreements, according to the companies' statements received by Lesprom Network.

In order to conserve a unique forest area between the rivers, Titan Group, Greenpeace Russia and WWF have entered into moratorium arrangements to preserve high conservation value forests. A portion of the forest areas leased by Titan Group and Arkhangelsk Pulp-and-Paper Mill border with or adjoin the boundaries of the projected reservation. In all cases, no logging activities are carried out within the boundaries of the projected SPNR.

Greenpeace Russia and WWF Russia jointly with Titan Group participate in the development of sustainable forest management techniques to be used in the leased forest areas. Titan Group continues to operate in the frontier forest areas not included in the projected reservation and moratorium related zones to switch over to a new forest management model.

The decision on whether to create the future reservation within the boundaries agreed upon by the parties and approval of the official status of the area as SPNR are reserved to the Government of the Arkhangelsk Region.

The conservation of intact forest landscape and forest heritage is going to be considered at a meeting of the team of the Federal Forestry Agency of the Russian Federation responsible for the harmonization of the requirements of forest laws, forestry relations regulations and voluntary forest certification requirements, of which representatives of Arkhangelsk Pulp-and-Paper Mill JSC are members. The meeting of the team is scheduled for 1Q 2017.

Arkhangelsk Pulp-and-Paper Mill JSC (FSC certificates NC-СoC-014148, NC-CW-014148 issued in 2006) and Titan Commercial and Industrial Enterprise LLC (FSC certificates NC-СoC-014137, NC-CW-014137 issued in 2005) have been members of FSC, a voluntary forest certification system, for many years. The mill jointly with Titan Group approved a Sustainable Forest Management & Certification Strategy in 2003 and a FSC-POL-01-004 Declaration (FSC association policy) in December 2011.

Throughout the entire period while holding their certificates, the both companies were always committed to implementing sustainable forest management policies and complying with environmental, social and economic standards when carrying out their activities and are annually audited by FSC’s auditing firms for compliance with the requirements of certification standards. 

Compliance with FSC's forest certification requirements necessitates, among other things, the preservation of high conservation value forests and refraining from the use of wood from this category of forests, including frontier forest areas. Focusing in its business on the requirements of its customers, Arkhangelsk Pulp-and-Paper Mill was the first among Russian pulp and paper companies to offer FSC branded products to the market. The following products offered by the companies are currently FSC certified: kraft pulp, wrapping and packaging paper, cardboard, corrugating paper, offset paper, round wood, industrial chips, lumber and pellets.