The Domtar Corp., Canada, mill in Ashdown, Ark., USA, this week announced that the partnership it helped spearhead to increase Forest Stewardship Council (FSC®) group certification among small landowners has enrolled more than 500,000 acres in the four-states region. With the Ashdown Mill's strong support, the Four States Timberland Owners Association (FSTOA) was successful in reaching this significant milestone less than five years after the group's creation and initial enrollment of 70,000 acres of forestland. 

"To reach this milestone in such a short time span is a significant accomplishment," said Digger Pond, the fiberline manager at Domtar's Ashdown mill. "I am extremely proud of our team and even prouder that local landowners embraced something so important to Domtar and the Ashdown Mill."

With only about 10% of forests worldwide certified to any form of standard, the addition of newly certified acreage is positive news. This is especially true in a region like the southeastern U.S., where more than 75% of timberland is owned by small private landowners. These landowners often find the financial and technical requirements associated with forest certification burdensome.

"The amazing growth of FSTOA to encompass more than a half million acres of FSC certified land is a testament to Domtar's commitment to increasing private land certification in the south," said Paige Goff, Domtar's VP of sustainability and business communications. "Efforts such as this are critical in helping ensure we keep privately owned forests in North America for generations to come."

Doug Teale, mill sustainability manager at Ashdown, and the entire wood procurement team played a key role in driving forward the FSTOA and demonstrating its value. "We are proud of our on-going commitment to responsible forest management, and are excited to see so many private landowners join us in our effort," he noted, adding that "this milestone is good for customers, employees, communities, and is great for forests."

Domtar revolutionized the industry when it became the first company in North America to offer FSC certified copy paper in 2005, and to date has sold 6.5 million-plus tons of FSC certified products. The company continues to lead through its EarthChoice® commitment to sustainable business, which includes the promotion of initiatives focused on empowering small landowners to adopt sustainable forestry principles.

More information about the Four States Timberland Owners Association is available online.