Posted on 23 October
2013 | Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan: Representatives
from Kyrgyzstan and 11 other Central and
South Asian countries made a historic pledge
today to protect and conserve snow leopards
and their habitat in the high-mountain landscapes
of Asia.
Joined by conservation
experts from around the world and the international
donor community, the 12 nations endorsed
the Bishkek Declaration on Snow Leopard
Conservation and the Global Snow Leopard
and Ecosystem Protection Program. The declaration
marks the first time that governments and
non-governmental organizations have teamed
up to conserve snow leopards and their habitat.
Like many species, the
snow leopard is vulnerable to poaching driven
by the illegal wildlife trade. In addition,
snow leopards are killed by farmers in retaliation
for preying on livestock, and face a declining
habitat range due to overgrazing, infrastructure
development and the impacts of climate change.
It is estimated that
fewer than 7,500 snow leopards remain in
the wild. The goal of the initiative is
to protect 20 snow leopard landscapes that
have over 100 breeding adults by 2020, and
to promote sustainable development in areas
where the species lives.
The summit and work
of the government of the Kyrgyzstan, the
World Bank, range states and the other partners
is bringing the plight of the snow leopard
to the attention of the world. Saving snow
leopards and managing the high-mountain
landscapes of Asia also helps maintain water
and food security for upland and downstream
communities alike.
Moreover, the mountain
landscapes of Asia are highly vulnerable
to the impacts of climate change. Building
adaptation measures for conservation, local
communities and national economies into
the plan will create for a more sustainable
future.
“This is a monumental
moment for snow leopards. It’s thrilling
to see the brightest minds in the field
of conservation team together to preserve
this iconic cat, but also do it in a way
that holds a positive impact beyond the
snow leopard,” said WWF Program Manager
John Farrington.
WWF works with partners
to raise awareness at local, national and
regional levels across the snow leopard
range countries about the need to conserve
the species. Together with the US Agency
for International Development, WWF implements
climate adaptation projects, for example
by expanding protected areas, diversifying
livelihoods, and works to improve management
of pastures, water and forests.
+ More
Companies disclose ecological
footprint of 82 million tonnes of pulp and
paper
Posted on 30 October
2013 | Gland, Switzerland — WWF recognizes
the leadership in transparency of 25 of
the world’s most important pulp and paper
manufacturers, as demonstrated by their
participation in the WWF Environmental Paper
Company Index 2013. Companies voluntarily
disclosed the ecological footprint of 40
product categories, more than doubling those
evaluated in the 2011 index.
The companies recognized
for their transparency in today’s launch
of the WWF Environmental Paper Company Index
(EPCI) 2013 together produce 14 per cent
of the world´s paper and board, respectively
28 per cent of the world’s graphic paper,
29 per cent of the world’s newsprint, 14
per cent of the world’s tissue and 6 per
cent of the world’s packaging. They also
produce 14 per cent of the world’s pulp.
In alphabetical order,
the 25 companies showing leadership in transparency
in the EPCI 2013 are:
Appleton Coated (North America), ARAUCO(South
America), Arjowiggins Graphic (Europe),
BillerudKorsnäs (Europe), Bio-PAPPEL
(Central America), Cascades (North America),
CMPC (South America), Domtar (North America),
Fedrigoni (Europe), Fibria (South America),
ITC (Asia), Klabin (South America), Lecta
(Europe), Lenzing Papier (Europe), Metsä
Group (Europe), Mondi (South Africa), NewPage
(North America), Norske Skog (Europe), Resolute
Forest Products (North America), SCA (Europe),
Södra (Europe), Sofidel (Europe), Stora
Enso (Europe), TNPL/Tamil Nadu (Asia), UPM
(Europe).
* Regions refer to headquarter locations.
“We are delighted that
over a third of the 70 globally significant
players invited to participate in the WWF
EPCI 2013 have taken this opportunity to
disclose their sustainability performance
and targets,” says Emmanuelle Neyroumande,
Manager of WWF International’s pulp and
paper work. “This robust participation shows
a real interest by the companies in working
towards reducing their ecological footprint.”
WWF's Environmental
Paper Company Index covers the major impacts
of the paper industry on the environment
for the production of newspaper grades,
graphic paper, packaging, tissue, or pulp.
The companies scored against 3 aspects;impacts
on forest ecosystems from fibre sourcing,
emissions from manufacturing processes such
as water pollution and greenhouse gas emissions
and reporting and Environmental Management
System.
The criteria apply to
both policy and production, hence measuring
each company's targets and actual performance.
WWF’s projections show that higher incomes
and a growing population will increase demand
for many commodities, including food, fuel,
timber and fibres1. Forest-based industries,
which rely on resources that can be renewed,
will be key to conserving forests in an
age of resource scarcity and land-use competition.
Even though the paper
industry has shown some progress in recent
decades, the globalized nature of the industry
demands sector–wide, ambitious environmental
goals for responsible sourcing, production
and use of its products and maximum transparency.
The WWF Environmental Paper Company Index
can assist the pulp and paper industry on
its path of continual improvement.
“More important than
the scores achieved is the transparency
shown by the participants. Companies that
declined to participate have missed a chance
to demonstrate the efforts they might be
undertaking to address environmental issues”
says Neyroumande.
In addition to reporting
on environmental performance, companies
participating in the WWF Environmental Paper
Company Index can request WWF’s advice and
feedback on potential areas of improvement,
potential risks and tools to support company
efforts toward greater sustainability.
