UPM showcases its biodiversity initiatives in CBD Business and Biodiversity Forum

(UPM, Helsinki, 11 November 2015, at 11:00 EET) - UPM participates in the CBD Business and Biodiversity Forum 2015 on 11 - 12 November in Helsinki. UPM has been invited as a key note speaker together with the Finnish Ministry of Environment and Finland's leading corporate responsibility network FIBS, who both are organising the event in co-operation with the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD).

"Wood from sustainably managed forests forms the basis for everything we do at UPM, and biodiversity has been one key element in UPM's forestry and wood sourcing strategy already for more than 20 years. Today we can see the long term value of this work as tangible competitive advantage," says Pirkko Harrela, Executive Vice President, Stakeholder Relations and a key note speaker from UPM.

"Forest industry has a key role in enhancing bioeconomy in Finland. It's great that maintaining biodiversity plays so important role also in UPM's strategy. I hope that UPM's example encourages also other companies to include ecosystem services in their environmental responsibility themes and to see the opportunities of new nature based solutions in their business strategies", says Timo Tanninen, Director General, Ministry of the Environment.

Timo Lehesvirta, who is responsible for sustainability of UPM's forest operations and the other key note speaker in the forum underlines that the biodiversity targets are very closely integrated into UPM's research and forestry operations.

"We have also enhanced a new working culture by co-operating actively in various species and habitat projects with our stakeholders. The better we know the nature, the better we can take care of it. Also the opportunities to succeed in the new, developing bioeconomy will be much improved.", Lehesvirta continues.

The CBD Business and Biodiversity Forum is part of the UN's Convention on Biological Diversity initiative. The President of the Republic of Finland Sauli Niinistö is the patron of the CBD Business & Biodiversity Forum 2015..

For more information, please contact
Pirkko Harrela, EVP, Stakeholder Relations, UPM, tel. +358 2041 50588 or Timo Lehesvirta, Director, Forest, Global, UPM, tel. +358 400 752 212

UPM, Media Relations
9.00-16.00 EET
tel. +358 40 588 3284
media@upm.com

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UPM
Through the renewing of the bio and forest industries, UPM is building a sustainable future across six business areas: UPM Biorefining, UPM Energy, UPM Raflatac, UPM Paper Asia, UPM Paper Europe and North America and UPM Plywood. Our products are made of renewable raw materials and are recyclable. We serve our customers worldwide. The group employs around 20,000 people and its annual sales are approximately EUR 10 billion. UPM shares are listed on NASDAQ OMX Helsinki. UPM - The Biofore Company - www.upm.com