Old Growth Forests to Crates

[The.Greenbase@green2.greenpeace.org]

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Forwarded message:
                                <199701152236.OAA09170@bb.greenbase.gl3>
To:      @INET world-press@xs2.greenpeace.org
From:    @INET "The Greenbase" <greenbas@bb.greenbase.gl3>
Date:    WED 15-JAN-97 22:39:11 GMT
Subject: Old Growth Forest from Njaka Fjall Goes to Crates at Assi Doman
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Original to: The.Greenbase@g2.bos.us.gl3

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GREENPEACE REVEALS: OLD GROWTH FOREST FROM NJAKA FJALL GOES TO
CRATES AT ASSI DOMAN

Greenpeace today revealed that Assi Doman's promise not to use
old growth forest timber is a lie.  Greenpeace has traced where
the timber

from old growth forest in Njakafjall is taken, and can today
reveal that the largest portion is purchased by Assi-Dom=E4n for
production of freight crates.  Assi Doman has recently spent
large sums in order to create an active environmental profile,

and has clearly promised not to buy timber from old growth
forests, such as the one in Njaka.

Since last Friday Greenpeace has been stopping cutting of old
growth forest in Njakafjall.  Njakafjall is a part of an almost
untouched belt of  spruce dominated forest aong the Sedish
mountain chain.  Because of its age and size it incorporates a
number of rare and threatened species, and has been a subject of
hot debate between land owners, environmentalists and
authorities for 10 years.

The Njakafj=E4ll forest is owned by Vilhelmina cooperative, and
the present fellings are performed by Norrskog.  The best timber
(ca. 300-400 m3) has already been sold to Dorotea Emballage AB,
a part of Assi Doman concern.  Dorotea Emballage produces
freight crates of about 95% of  the wood.  The crates are then
sold to such companies as Volvo, Ericsson, Bilspedition and
IKEA.

"It shows how pitifully little lies behind environmental
promises issued by large companies, " said Mats Abrhamsson,
campaign director at Greenpeace.  "I don't believe these
companies will want to share the blame for cutting of old growth
forest at Njaka.

Greenpeace today issued a demand that Assi Doman immediately
stops all purchasing of timber from Norrskog.  Greenpeace has
also called on the company who buy products from Assi Doman's
crate factory in Dorotea, to stop purchasing crates made out of
the last of Sweden's old growth forest.

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