ENSO SUGGESTS JOINT AUDIT OF DEBATED AREA

Greenpeace has continued its activities against Enso and accused Enso of distributing incorrect information about the Vuokkiniemi logging area. In order to clarify the situation Enso proposes that environmental organisations, the specialists in the working group on old-growth forests by the Ministry for the environment, the Karelian authorities and Enso audit the area together. This audit would then be used to decide whether or not the area can be logged. The ministry for the environment has taken a positive stance on Enso's suggestion.

According to their environmental principles published in June 1996 Enso does not log, buy or use as raw material wood which originates from natural protection areas or areas assessed as valuable by authorities or official working groups.

The origin of the wood is monitored by personnel trained for the job. The logging in Karelia is done by Finnish entrepeneurs and Enso inspects each site before logging is started.

These principles have been adhered to in the Vuokkiniemi case which was audited by Enso on July 9, 1996. As a result of that audit the oldest part of the area was left outside the logging.

GREENPEACE ATTACKS RESPONSE BY ENSO TO KARELIAN OLD GROWTH CRISIS

Greenpeace today totally rejected Enso's response to dealing with the disputed area of old growth forest in Karelia. At a press conference today in Helsinki Greenpeace produced conclusive evidence that an area in Karelia where Enso was buying wood from is classified as old growth forest.

Enso have already promised in a letter to BBC Enterprises Ltd in the UK on 24/1/1996 that "Enso does not buy wood from old growth forests.." However a Greenpeace investigation has clearly shown that Enso has been breaking its promise by continuing to buy old growth wood from Karelia.

It is outrageous that Enso's only response in a press release they issued today on this matter is to say that "in order to clarify the situation Enso proposes that environmental organisations, the specialists in the working group on old growth forests by the Ministry for the environments, the Karelian authorities and Enso audit the area together."

"Greenpeace is not prepared to have discussions about an area in Karelia which has been clearly shown to be old growth forest and is already partly logged. However if Enso is serious about discussions with Greenpeace then it must immediately stop all logging activities in this area and in other old growth forest areas in Karelia and be prepared to discuss our other demands. Otherwise Greenpeace will have no option but to continue its campaign against Enso especially in the consumer countries, " said Tim Birch, Greenpeace International Forest Campaign Coordinator.

Greenpeace is calling on Enso to make available all maps that detail Enso's logging activities in Karelia. This information needs to be urgently assessed to ensure that Enso is not logging in any other areas of old growth Karelian forest.