The Woodlands division at the Abitibi-Consolidated paper mill here received Canadian Standards Association certification Thursday for sustainable management practices in the Crossroute Forest.
Representatives from Abitibi, as well as the Ministry of Natural Resources, the CSA, and other organizations associated with the forestry industry, were on hand at La Place Rendez-Vous to applaud the certification.
The local division is the first to deliver on Abitibi’s new corporate commitment to implement Sustainable Forest Management Standards in its North American facilities by the end of 2005.
The forest also is the first to be CSA-certified in Ontario.
“Receiving certification validates our efforts to ensure the sustainability of our forests,” said Jim Krag, manager of Woodlands East for Abitibi-Consolidated here.
“These results are a testimony that our forest management practices are sustainable for the long run,” he added.
Local Woodlands staff took part in the CSA registration of the Crossroute Forest, which is managed under a Sustainable Forest Licence issued by the MNR.
Certification under this standard demonstrates a commitment to continuous improvement in forest management performance.
This certification requires that independent experts audit the company’s performance against a set of objective standards and procedures for sustainability.
The Quality Management Institute, which recommended the Crossroute Forest be registered under the CAN/CSA-Z809 Sustainable Forest Management Standard, conducted the audit of the area.
CSA certification is a voluntary process, which is consistent with the government’s requirements for sustainable forest management.
Mike Willick, assistant deputy minister of Forests Division with the MNR, couldn’t attend yesterday’s presentation due to business he had regarding the fatal MNR helicopter crash that occurred Tuesday north of Sault Ste. Marie.
But in a written statement, Willick congratulated staff and management of Abitibi-Consolidated on having the first forest in Ontario achieve CSA certification.
“We believe the MNR’s high standards for sustainable forestry play a significant role in helping companies like Abitibi-Consolidated satisfy certification systems, such as that of the CSA,” he noted.
Guillaume Gignac, manager of the Forest Products Management Sector of the Quality Management Institute, presented the CSA certificate to Krag and Bob Cox, manager of Woodlands West for Abitibi-Consolidated.
Speakers at Thursday’s ceremony included Krag, Gignac, Geoff Gillon (on behalf of Mayor Glenn Witherspoon), Peter Johnson, manager of the CSA International Forest Products Group, MNR district manager Bill Darby, and Don Hoskins, general manger of Abitibi’s Ontario-Newfoundland Woodlands Operations.
All congratulated the local division on its hard work striving to attain CSA certification.
Fort Frances Times
Local News from Across the Rainy River District
