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We are pleased to announce the release of our latest report, Forest Land Acquisition by Stora Enso in South China: Status, Issues, and Recommendations. This report assesses the company's efforts to address violations to land rights identified in a prior report launched in 2010.
Prepared with Landesa, the report commends Stora Enso for undertaking a number of corrective actions to remedy the situation, including suspending further acquisition of collective forest land, making corrections to 35 percent of its existing contracts, and launching an internal screening and correction process for existing contracts. The report also finds a number of legal and operational flaws in these corrective actions and other unresolved issues.
The Stora Enso case highlights the need to strengthen and enforce international investment standards, particularly those of the International Finance Corporation, which funds a large number of natural resource projects, including Stora Enso's work in Guangxi, China. Moreover, the report provides important lessons and recommendations on socially responsible business practices that safeguard local community rights, while helping to mitigate conflict and investment risks for all natural resource investors.
We hope you find this report useful and share it widely.
- The Rights and Resources Initiative
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