Russian IlimSeverLes held a seminar on FSC certification on October, 18 2004

Oct 19, 2004. /Lesprom Network/. Russian IlimSeverLes (Arkhangelsk region, owned by Ilim Pulp) held a seminar dedicated to the FSC voluntary forest management and usage certification, Ilim Pulp spokesperson told Lesprom.ru. In spring 2003 13 timber enterprises owned by IlimSeverLes signed agreements with Europartner to carry out the preparation for FSC certification. Expert checks are currently being held on the enterprises in order to prepare them for future FSC audit checks. FSC certification consists of several stages. The 1st stage consists of the estimation of the current state of forest management and usage in line with the international standards. The results of the check will be published in summer 2005. The 2nd stage envisages the certification of timber supplies ‘from the forestry to the consumer’ which gives the guarantee that the certified timber was produced of FSC certified timber and complies with international environmental standards. The seminar opened the 2nd stage of FSC certification. IlimSeverLes CEO Sergey Anshukov said: ‘By the end of 2005 we intend to obtain FSC steady forest management and usage certificates. The next step is the certification of timber supplies structure which allows timber enterprises to sell certified timber and timber products and therefore be able to face competition on the European markets.’ Ilim Pulp timber and timber-processing development director Dmitri Chuyko said he did not doubt about the positive result of IlimSeverLes FSC certification: ‘It is both very important to conduct forest management and usage certification as well as the certification of supplies structure – that we are committed to fulfill. We fully understand the demands of the international markets and we do our best to meet international standards of timber sector business. A new timber-processing mill will be built on Kotlassky, the 1st stage of the future enterprise will produce 500 thousand cub m of timber. We have made another step to make our goods competitive on the environmentally conscious markets.’