APRIL exposed again

A new report released today by Eyes on the Forest analyzed the impact of Asia Pacific Resources International Limited (APRIL) on Sumatra's rain-forests. According to the report, at least 140,000 hectares of natural forest were lost in all APRIL supplier concessions between 2008/2009 and 2011 in Riau; equivalent to the loss of 5 percent the natural forest remaining in 2008/2009 and 27 percent of the total forest lost between 2008/9 and 2011.

APRIL knowingly pulped natural forest wood from concessions whose licenses were issued through corrupt practices. Ten of twelve APRIL wood suppliers operating in the company’s main wood supply area, Riau Province’s deep peat Kampar Peninsula, obtained their licenses from the heads of Siak and Pelalawan districts head.

According to Eyes on the Forest, "APRIL's public commitment to sustainable and natural fiber free operations after 2009 was pure sales talk; green-washing to win back customers who had left the company due to its dismal sustainability record."