Posted on September, 21 2001

Brasilia, Brazil - Concerned environmental, social and economic groups have joined hands in creating the Brazilian Forest Stewardship Council towards the verifiable guarantee that wood products are coming from ecologically well-managed forests.

The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) has been present in Brazil for five years, but until now it was promoted by a working group coordinated by WWF-Brazil. According to Dr. Walter Suiter, executive secretary of the working group, the creation of an independent organization was necessary in order to intensify the promotion of FSC certification in Brazil.

WWF-Brazil, represented by its CEO, Dr. Garo Batmanian, was elected to the environmental chamber of the Board of Directors of the new Brazilian Forest Stewardship Council. The governor of the state of Amapá (Northeast Amazon), João Alberto Capiberibe, was among the individuals who signed their affiliation to the NGO. National standards for Amazon upland forest were also approved.

The Brazilian Amazon is the largest continuous region of tropical forest in the world, containing nearly 31 percent of the global total. Deforestation has been threatening the Brazilian Amazon's existence as never before. Illegal logging is rampant and increasing. Brazil has one third of the world's tropical forests and exports only 14% percent of the wood extracted from them. FSC certification will help to enlarge the Brazilian share of the world's market while supporting good forest management to ensure the maintenance of its natural rainforests.

The certified area in Brazil totals 870,511 hectares. FSC labelled products made in Brazil include Amazon hard and soft wood, Açaí palm for heart of palm preserves and frozen fruit pulp, household objects and hand tools, and charcoal for barbecues.

For further information contact:

For further information contact:

Regina Vasquez in Communications at WWF-Brazil. Telephone +55-61-364-7483 and e-mail regina@wwf.org.br