Dogwood Alliance

Part two in a five week series exposing International Paper as the South and the world’s biggest forest destroyer…

Last week we took a closer look at International Paper’s impact on the forests of the South and United States. This week, we are going global to highlight the “international” in International Paper. Not only is IP a big bad actor in the US, with paper mills in Mexico, South America, Asia and Europe, they are contributing to the destruction of endangered forests around the globe. Additionally, IP has longstanding partnerships with Ilim Paper in Russia and Sun Paper in China.

Here is the complete list of IP’s paper mills outside of the US:

Europe (4):
Arles, France
Saillat sur Vienne, France
Kwidzyn, Poland
Svetogorsk, Russia

Asia (1):
Yanzhou, China

South America (3):
Luiz Antonio, Brazil
Mogi Guacu, Brazil
Tres Lagoas, Brazil

Mexico (1):
Veracruz, Mexico

(Above: Brazilian Eucalyptus plantation - credit: Chris Lang; Below: Karelian Old Growth - credit Wikimedia)

In Brazil, International Paper has institutionalized the conversion of natural forests to plantations across the landscape to feed their mills. Instead of loblolly pine, their favored species for plantations is eucalyptus including the genetically modified variety called Urogrand. Eucalyptus plantations in Brazil are replacing natural forests and in some cases agricultural land, draining critical water resources, displacing indigenous and landless communities and overall are incredibly resource intensive. Additionally, IP is working to export eucalyptus back to the US South in the form of cold-tolerant, genetically engineered trees. You can read more here about the threat of genetically engineered trees in the US South here and here.

In Russia, the International Paper’s mill is located on the Karellian Isthmus near the border with Finland. This Eastern European region is a hot spot for old growth Scots Pine and Norway Spruce and there are 1184 species of wild vascular plants found on the isthmus. Unfortunately, regulations are weak in the region and IP and its partners at Ilim Paper are under fire from Russian and Finnish environmental groups for logging of the incredibly biodiverse old growth forests of the region.

So as you can see, International Paper not only contributes to the destruction of the forests of the Southern US, but also has a large global footprint. Check back next week to learn more about how IP is bilking American taxpayers for billions of dollars in misguided subsidies.

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