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By being the first Western paper company that is directly involved in clear-cutting natural rainforests UPM-Kymmene has dramatically lowered international environmental standards The announcement of UPM-Kymmene's investment in Indonesia was a shock to the global environmental community because until then no international paper company had engaged in the destruction of rainforests for pulp and paper. For example in the mid '90s German paper companies and main publishers had agreed with environmental organisations that they would not use rainforest wood in their productions. Earlier in 1989 Scott Paper withdrew from a pulp project in Indonesia due to vocal protests. By co-operating with APRIL UPM-Kymmene has contravened the western practice of not pulping rainforests. It is leading a way for the increasing exploitation of threatened tropical forests and forest dependent communities. In Indonesia, as well as in many other countries with tropical forests, there are numerous plans for pulp and paper development. So far they have been pending for the want of finance and know-how. With UPM-Kymmene now proclaiming that there is nothing wrong in pulping rainforests, which are invaluable to local communities, there is a great risk that others will follow suit. This would lead fast to increased logging and alienation of land for pulp and paper by international forests corporations. Similarly, UPM-Kymmene created a new situation by marketing the paper of APRIL in Europe. In 1998 APRIL and UPM-Kymmene agreed that UPM-Kymmene would take care of the sales of APRIL's fine paper in Europe. The brand name for the photo-copy standard is PaperOne and it is made, as said before, from clear-cut natural rainforests harvested from lands that, according to customary law, may belong to local communities. In October 1999 the companies announced that UPM-Kymmene will discontinue the sales of APRIL's paper.
The improvements in the practices of APRIL induced by UPM-Kymmene are insignificant One of the main arguments of UPM-Kymmene in favour of joining APRIL in rainforest-based pulp and paper production is that it will help APRIL to improve its environmental and social practices. This appears to be a reasonable statement but does not stand up to critical examination. The concept of APRIL is based on clear-cutting natural rainforests which in Riau means serious and irreversible loss of valuable habitats. The only way to prevent the loss would be to reduce the capacity of the mill and to establish the plantations to some already cleared areas. However, the companies are determined to double the output of the pulp mill and open new areas for clear-cutting thus accelerating the environmental destruction. Furthermore the companies have failed to demonstrate commitment to the rights of the local communities. After the announcement of the alliance the conflicts with villagers have continued and even intensified. |