Papal blessing for FSC
WWF's Global Forest and Trade Initiative
October 25, 2000
Press Release
Assisi, Italy, October 25, 2000 - WWF, the conservation organisation, and ARC (Alliance of Religions and Conservation) today presented a unique wooden box to the Pope to receive his blessing. This box is made from forests sustainably managed according to the Forest Stewardship Council's (FSC) high environmental and social standards. The wood for this box has come from 5 different continents, symbolising a new hope for the world's forests.
The box, which contained a fragment of the Basilica donated by the Franciscans, was blessed at a general audience in Saint Peter Square in the Vatican City. The box and the stone from the Basilica, are symbols of the alliance between religions and conservation. It will make a pilgrimage towards Kathmandu where in November eleven of the world's major faiths will meet to celebrate religious global action towards saving the environment.
"The Pope's blessing sends a message to the world that forests are important not only for the products they provide and for nature, but also to meet spiritual and cultural needs," stated Dr. Steve Howard, Director of WWF's Global Forest and Trade Initiative who presented the box to the Pope with Father Max Mizzi, a Franciscan representative. "If the major faiths, the trade, governments, and NGO's such as WWF can all work together, then perhaps we can build a sustainable future for the world's forests."
The major faiths have influence over 7% of the world's land, which includes large areas of forests. Together with WWF and ARC, some of the world's major faiths are making commitments to forest conservation and the FSC.
Wood from the blessed box has been donated by members of the Global Forest and Trade Network, companies who are working in partnership with WWF and are committed to sourcing and producing their timber from independently certified sustainably managed forests. The wood comes from forests as far a field as the Solomon Islands, Sweden, South Africa, Brazil, Malaysia, and the UK.
ENDS
For more information please contact:
Steve Howard, Director of the Global Forest and Trade Initiative, mobile: +44 777 1818 693 Tori Lyall, Communications Officer, WWF's Forests for Life Campaign, tel: +44 1483 419 266, Fax: +44 1483 427 965.
For pictures of the papal blessing and TV footage please contact: Cristina Maceroni at WWF-Italy, tel: +39 06 844 9 71
NOTES TO EDITORS
1. The Alliance of Religion and Conservation (ARC) is an international religious environmental organisation linking eleven of the world's faiths with some 3 billion followers to environmental programmes. ARC was launched in 1995 by HRH the Duke of Edinburgh. Visit the web site for more information: www.icorec.f9.co.uk
2. Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) is the international organisation co-ordinating the independent certification of good forest management. Visit the FSC web site for more information: www.fscoax.org
3. Global Forest and Trade Networks are now operating in North America, Austria, Australia, Belgium, Brazil, France, Germany, the Nordic Countries (Sweden, Denmark, Norway and Finland), the Netherlands, Spain, Switzerland and the UK. At the current rate of growth there will be 800 to 1000 members by the end of the year 2000 with Japan and Hong Kong soon to join the Network. Visit www.panda.org/forests4life/ffl_gfti.htm for more information on WWF's Global Forest and Trade Initiative and the Networks. The Global Forest and Trade Networks were formerly called Buyers Groups.
4. The FSC certified box is made of wood from 10 different species, 5 continents, and donated from some of the leading forest product companies around the world, signifying the global support for forest certification and sustainable forest management. The box was built by David Craig Ltd., a maker of furniture based in the UK, who is a long- standing partner of WWF and pioneer of the certification movement. For more information visit the web site: www.davidcraig.co.uk
Where the wood came from to make the blessed box:
Type of Wood Country of Origin Company
Mukwa Zambia Muzama Craft Ltd
Mushivi Zambia Muzama Craft Ltd
Chestnut Cornwall, UK Duchy of Cornwall
Pine South Africa Safcol
Oak UK Plashett Wood
Eucalyptus Solomon Islands Chindwell Company Ltd.
Rubberwood Malaysia Chindwell Company Ltd.
Andira Brazil Ecotimber
Pine Sweden AssiDom„n
Sucupira Preto Brazil A Van Den Burg B.V.
5. For more information on WWF's Journey to Kathmandu where the major faiths from around the world will meet in November visit the web site:
http://panda.org/livingplanet/sacred_gifts/
WWF is known as World Wide Fund For Nature, except in the United States and Canada, where it is known as World Wildlife Fund. Branksome House, Filmer Grove, Godalming, Surrey GU7 3AB, tel: +44 1483 419 266, fax: +44 1483 427 965 Web site www.panda.org/forests4life Printed on recycled paper