Stora Enso's plantation temporarily invaded in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil

On Tuesday morning 4 March Stora Enso's plantation in the southern Brazilian    
state of Rio Grande do Sul was invaded by around 800 protesters, most of whom   
were women. According to the invaders, the occupation was part of a series of   
actions planned against the agricultural sector within the days leading up to   
International Women's Day. The invasion ended in the afternoon of the same day. 

The protesters accused Stora Enso of operating illegally in the region claiming 
that Brazilian law forbids foreign companies from owning land within 150        
kilometres of the country's borders.                                            

Stora Enso has been purchasing lands in the border zone of Brazil. According to 
Brazilian law this land may be purchased and owned by foreign companies, but    
there is a specific approval process for foreign entities. Until this approval  
procedure is completed and to protect Stora Enso's land acquisitions, a         
Brazilian-owned company, Azenglever Agropecuária Ltd was formed to hold the land
until proper authorization is given. The company is registered to the company   
register in Brazil. All the relevant authorities were informed about this       
temporary arrangement.                                                          

Stora Enso made the court aware of the invasion and requested the competent     
authorities to take legal actions in order to remove the invaders in a peaceful 
way.                                                                            

For further information, please contact:                                        
Nils Grafström, Head of Stora Enso Latin America, tel +55 11 81759280           
Kari Vainio, EVP, Corporate Communications, tel. +44 7799 348 197               
Eija Pitkänen, Head of Sustainability, tel. +358 2046 21348                     

www.storaenso.com