"Wood production and water protection are not mutually exclusive, and with the new water programme, we further explore the ways we can manage them side-by-side. We want to develop our operations and put more emphasis on water habitats in forestry. We gather information and expand our expertise so that we can take even better actions for nature," says Pekka Kallio-Mannila, Head of Sustainability, Stora Enso wood supply in Finland.
Preparations for the water programme were started already in the spring of 2024, and the measures are expected to be launched gradually from January 2025 onward. To take the plans further and get the water programme into action, Stora Enso partners with Luontoa Oy, a leading consulting company in businesses' nature impact assessments. More details about the actions and new services will be communicated later.
"We support Stora Enso in raising water protection to a new level. Luontoa's operations are guided by a strong scientific basis, and we bring this know-how and vision to the water programme," says Inka Musta, CEO of Luontoa.
The new water programme is part of wider biodiversity actions in Finland, where Stora Enso buys wood from private forest owners. In Sweden, Stora Enso has also water programme in place for the company’s own forests, with focus areas such as wetland restoration and enhancing larger water landscapes.
Action plan to reinforce environmental performance across forestry operations
The new water programme is part of Stora Enso’s action plan to improve environmental performance in forestry operations. The goal is to ensure that nature values are considered with smooth processes and compliance with rules, regulations, and Stora Enso values. Following an environmental incident in Hukkajoki in Finland, Stora Enso conducted an internal investigation assisted by an external legal expert. The investigation resulted in selected actions to improve environmental performance in all wood supply operations not only in Finland but also in Sweden and the Baltics.
The action plan focuses on the following key areas:
- Increasing sustainability resources in Finland to support pre-harvest planning in sensitive nature areas. The recruitments are ongoing.
- Extensive additional trainings organized to own staff, contractors, and subcontractors, related to planning and monitoring of harvesting operations.
- Special attention and risk mitigation in harvesting operations in sensitive nature areas include increased supervision and controls as well as leaving a 50-meter buffer zone around habitats of freshwater pearl mussel until more detailed instructions from the authorities are available.
- Developing our own and industry-wide IT systems for proper information flow and early access to relevant information.
- Clarified roles and responsibilities in the harvesting value chain.
- Investing in freshwater pearl mussel protection as well as launching the new water programme.
With the new water programme and the forestry action plan, Stora Enso is looking to foster a strengthened organizational culture built on the company values, compliance and continuously improving environmental performance.
