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DOWNIE TIMBER LTD. Environmental and
Sustainable Forest Management Policy
1. Sustainable
Forestry:
Downie will practice sustainable forestry to meet the needs of the
present without compromising the ability of future generations to
meet their own needs by practicing a land stewardship ethic that
integrates reforestation and the managing, growing, nurturing and
harvesting of trees for useful products and ecosystem services such
as the conservation of soil, air and water quality, carbon,
biological diversity, wildlife and aquatic habitats, recreation, and
aesthetics.
2. Forest
Productivity and Health:
Downie will provide for regeneration after harvest and maintain the
productive capacity of the forest land base, and to protect and
maintain long-term forest and soil productivity. In addition, to
protect forests from economically or environmentally undesirable
levels of wildfire, pests, diseases, invasive exotic plants and
animals and other damaging agents and thus maintain and improve
long-term forest health and productivity.
3. Protection of
Water Resources:
Downie will protect water bodies and riparian zones, and to conform
with best management practices to protect water quality.
4. Protection of
Biological Diversity:
Downie will manage forests in ways that protect and promote
biological diversity, including animal and plant species, wildlife
habitats, and ecological or natural community types.
5. Aesthetics and
Recreation:
Downie will manage the visual impacts of forest operations, and to
provide recreational opportunities for the public.
6. Protection of
Special Sites:
Downie will manage forests and lands of special significance
(ecologically, geologically or culturally important) in a manner
that protects their integrity and takes into account their unique
qualities.
7. Responsible Fiber
Sourcing Practices in North America:
Downie will use and promote among other forest landowners
sustainable forestry practices that are both scientifically credible
and economically, environmentally and socially responsible.
8. Avoidance of
Controversial Sources including Illegal Logging in Offshore Fiber
Sourcing:
Downie will avoid wood fiber from illegally logged forests when
procuring fiber outside of North America, and to avoid sourcing
fiber from countries without effective social laws.
9. Legal Compliance:
Downie will comply with applicable federal, provincial, state, and
local forestry, environmental and social laws, statutes, and
regulations.
10. Research:
Downie will support advances in sustainable forest management
through forestry research, science and technology.
11. Training and
Education:
Downie will improve the practice of sustainable forestry through
training and education programs.
12. Public
Involvement:
Downie will broaden the practice of sustainable forestry on public
lands through community involvement.
13. Transparency:
Downie will broaden the understanding of forest certification to the
SFI 2010-2014 Standard by documenting certification audits and
making the findings publicly available.
14. Continual
Improvement:
Downie will continually improve the practice of forest management
and to monitor, measure and report performance in achieving the
commitment to sustainable forestry.
Nick Arkle, RPF Chief Forester September 26,
2011
View our Mountain Caribou
section
Courtesy
Ken Graham
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