APRIL Group Moves on Policy to Measure Forest Carbon
Pulp-paper maker joins search for industry conservation standards
APRIL to colaborate on forest High Carbon Stock standard
JAKARTA, 26 JUNE, 2014 – APRIL Group said today it has joined the effort to set industry standards for conserving carbon-rich forests. The pulp and paper manufacturer added that it will adopt those standards in future forestry planning.
“We have made it our policy to follow the industry’s best practices pertaining to the conservation of forests with large carbon stores,” said APRIL Group Sustainability Director Petrus Gunarso. “We are ready to begin the work of defining what those practices should be in collaboration with other stakeholders.”
APRIL Group said it has signed a memorandum of understanding with Netherlandsbased IDH, The Sustainable Trade Initiative, to help identify High Carbon Stock (HCS) forests – areas with exceptionally large amounts of stored carbon. It’s envisioned that HCS forests will be protected from harvesting to prevent the release of greenhouse gasses.
Defining forest carbon standards is part of the initiative. APRIL Group will participate with other industry players, NGOs and government representatives.
Forests naturally store carbon, the quantity depending on the kind of vegetation. HCS measurement standards are intended to steer development to low carbon stock areas to increase land productivity and the absorption of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. APRIL Group has stated that it will abide by those standards once they’ve gained broad industry acceptance.
APRIL Group pledged to help identify HCS standards as part of a Sustainable Forest Management Policy announced last January. The company operates forest plantations on the Indonesian island of Sumatra to furnish wood for its pulp and paper mill.
