Asia Pulp & Paper Group (APP) Sets New Standards in Natural Forest Protection, Extends APKI Commitment to Wood Legality and Verification (SVLK)

JAKARTA, Indonesia - Saturday, May 19th 2012 [ME NewsWire]

(BUSINESS WIRE)-- The Indonesian Pulp & Paper Association (APKI) welcomes the announcement of new Natural Forest Protection Policies by Asia Pulp & Paper Group (APP)presented on May 15, 2012.

Misbahul Huda, Chairman of the Indonesian Pulp & Paper Association (APKI), said: "APP’s new policies on Natural Forest Protectionare a clear demonstration of the Indonesian pulp & paper industry’s goal to achieve world-class production, trade and environmental standards.

"Just a few weeks ago, the pulp and paper industry through APKI has made a firm commitment to our international trade partners and other stakeholders to support the implementation of Indonesia’s new Wood Legality and Verification System (SVLK)based on regulation established by Ministry of Forestry. This commitment is stated in 'The Petition of Indonesian pulp & paper industry to achieve world-class production, trade and environmental standards' which was signed in April 20, 2012 by 7 (seven) associations including APKI.

"Now APP has built on that obligation to SVLK with new policies on High Conservation Value Forest (HCVF) that will match or exceed the standards set by international stakeholders. These two developments show that Indonesia’s lawmakers and major industries are determined to protect our country’s precious natural resources and biodiversity, as well as meeting our international obligations to tackle climate change.

"As a leading trade association in the forestry sector, APKI will do everything it can to support APP in its new commitments and encourage other leading companies to go down the same path. This is a new era of sustainability for Indonesia’s pulp and paper industry, where growth in exports will go hand in hand with ever-greater protection for the environment."

About SVLK:

Wood Legality Verification System (SVLK) is Indonesia’s chain of custody certification programme, enacted in 2009. This system ensures that wood products exported from the country are legal and traceable to verified points of origin. SVLK is designed to ensure that the industry will only receive and process timber from legal sources according to the regulations of Indonesia. The regulations cover aspects of licensing, harvesting, transporting and processing for the industry. SVLK is an important step in the effort to achieve full Sustainable Forest Management (SFM) certification.

About APP Indonesia:

APP Indonesia is a brand umbrella for paper products which are produced by several mills in Indonesia such as PT Indah Kiat Pulp & Paper Tbk, PT Pindo Deli Pulp & Paper Mills, PT PabrikKertas Tjiwi Kimia Tbk, PT Lontar Papyrus Pulp & Paper Industries, and PT Ekamas Fortuna. APP is headquartered in Indonesia and markets its product to more than 120 countries. Most of APP’s production facilities are Chain-of-Custody certified by LEI and PEFC. APP supports several main conservation initiatives, including a 178,000 hectares Biosphere Reserve in Giam Siak Kecil – Bukit Batu and an area of 106,000 hectares for the Senepis Tiger Sanctuary. Both are located in the province of Riau, Sumatra. Other APP wildlife preservation initiatives include the support of the Kutai Orangutan Program in Kalimantan and the conservation of the Javan Rhino in Ujung Kulon National Park. For more information, please visit: www.asiapulppaper.com.

About APP China:

APP China is headquartered in Shanghai, with over 20 pulp and paper mills in the form of subsidiaries and joint ventures, as well as forest plantations with a total area of over 300,000 hectares. With over 38,900 employees, APP China has a total production capability of 8 million tons per year in 2010. By the end of 2010, APP China has spent RMB 5.5 billion (USD 869 million) in environmental protection facilities and RMB 600 million (USD 92.3 million) in various charitable causes and community development projects across the country. For more information, please visit www.app.com.cn.

Contacts

APKI

Amelia M. Niken, Manajer Program dan Operasional

+62 21 31926084

info@apki.net



APP

Redita Soumi, APP Indonesia

E: redita_soumi@app.co.id