ACTIVISTS BLOCK ENSO'S PULP MILL IN PROTEST AGAINST DESTRUCTION OF RUSSIAN OLD GROWTH FORESTS

Greenpeace steps up its campaign to protect old growth forests:

Eno, Finland, Thursday, 22nd August, 1996

Today more than 20 activists from Finland, Russia, Sweden, Denmark, Austria, Britain and Germany blocked the entrance of the Enocell pulp mill, which is part of the Enso Group.

The activists blocked the main entrance of the mill with a container stopping the trucks which bring wood from Russia. They also displayed banners in English, Finnish and German reading "Enso Stop Destroying Old Growth Forests".

"Despite its promise to its consumers and the public Enso continues to use wood from old growth forest from Karelia and it continues to deny it. Enso needs to stop hiding the truth about its destructive activities to the public and its customers. It must take immediate action to stop using wood from old growth forest", said Matti Ikonen from Greenpeace.

The Enocell pulp mill, in Uimaharju, only 60 kilometres from the Russian border, is one of the largest pulp mill's in Europe and is mainly dependent on Russian wood. A recent Greenpeace investigation documented that the Enocell mill is processing wood from one of the last remaining areas of old growth forest in Europe, Karelia in Russia.

This was the second action this week by Greenpeace in its campaign to protect old growth forest in Karelia. On Tuesday Greenpeace activists successfully stopped two logging harvesters in Karelia which were cutting old growth forest for Enso's Enocell mill.

At an international press conference in Helsinki later today Greenpeace will be presenting the documentation which proves the link between Enso and the destruction of the Karelian old growth forest. Greenpeace campaigners from Finland, Germany, Russia and Greenpeace International explain the international importance of the Karelian forest and the role of producers and consumers in other countries in protecting it.

The press conference will be held today at 10:00 am (8:00 GMT) at restaurant Kaksi Kanaa, Kanavakatu 3, Helsinki, Finland.

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT::

Matti Ikonen + 358-(9)49-25 77 55 in Eno

Ana Toni + 49-172-3818140/143

For photos and video footage available plase call Greenpeace in Helsinki, tel +358-0-6150 166