Staples, Conservation Groups, Wood Products Companies and Landowners Join to Protect Forests and Combat Climate Change

(BUSINESS WIRE)--Staples and one-time foe Dogwood Alliance are teaming up with other conservation groups, wood products companies and landowners to announce a new, multi-faceted initiative that will protect forests, combat climate change and help develop sources of paper and wood products certified to the high standards of the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC).

Selected Members of the Carbon Canopy will hold a media conference call on October 8^th at 1 p.m. EDT to launch the initiative.

Call-In Number: 1-800-894-5910 – code “canopy”

The Carbon Canopy is focused on forests in the Southern US, the largest wood-producing region in the world where 90% of the forests are privately owned. As a first step, the Carbon Canopy will develop a first of its kind pilot project that will be based on rigorous environmental standards to evaluate how the emerging US forest carbon market can be credibly leveraged to pay private landowners to expand carbon stores in working forests in the South. The overarching goal is to create financial incentives for landowners to increase forest conservation and restoration efforts and to certify management practices to the high standards of FSC.

WHAT: A Telephone press conference with participating companies and representatives who will be available to present the initiative and answer questions.

WHO: The call will be with the following companies and their representatives: Dogwood Alliance – Danna Smith, Staples, Inc. – Mark Buckley, Domtar – Lewis Fix, Columbia Forest Products – Jim Sitts, Pacific Forest Trust - Connie Best The Home Depot – Ron Jarvis

WHEN: October 8^th at 1 p.m. Eastern.