MEDIA RELEASE—For Immediate Release—March 14, 2008

Cutting Down Provincial Parks Cheaper than Recycling

Tembec Seeks to Keep Clearcutting in Manitoba, but Doesn't Respect the Environment

This week Tembec announced plans to cease using recycled paper at their paper plant in Pine Falls, because it's cheaper to make paper from trees than recycle.

"The world is searching for means to lower our impact on this planet," said Eric Reder, Campaign Director for the Wilderness Committee. "Yet Tembec is making the distinct decision to increase their devastation of our forests, including our cherished provincial parks. They are not managing their operation in Manitoba in the best interest of people in this province, nor for our future."

Right now behind closed doors, the provincial government is negotiating a contract that will allow Tembec to keep clearcutting the public lands in Manitoba for the next 20 years. Both Tembec and the Manitoba government have refused the Wilderness Committee access to the long-term plans.

Clearcut logging does long-term and often permanent damage to our forests in Manitoba, including areas of Manitoba's beloved provincial parks.

Currently, Tembec is hauling wood out of three separate provincial parks, from the habitat of two different herds of highly endangered woodland caribou, from areas along the Manigotagan River that are supposed to be protected, and from intact sections of the East Side Wilderness Area.

"We can't allow this multinational corporation to keep operating in Manitoba if this is the type of decision they make," said Reder. "The government must change Tembec's contract so they are not logging in these important forests, and also mandate the use of fiber from sources other than trees in their factory."

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