Added value and wellbeing with our stakeholders

Continuous dialogue 

Our dialogue with local communities is founded on decades of close co-operation. In many cases the local community has grown around our operations over a long period of time. Our key stakeholders in forestry-related issues are forest owners, employees, investors, suppliers, local communities, non-governmental organizations, research organisations, governments, regulators and the media.

We have a local presence both as a major forest and landowner and as a purchaser of wood. Stakeholder dialogue is integrated into our daily forest management practices. We carefully assess the impacts of harvesting, especially when planning wood harvests near settlements or other sensitive areas.

We seek out active dialogue and partnerships with non-governmental organisations both globally and at national and local level. Local environmental organisations perform hands-on conservation work at grassroots level. Our long-term target is to create a new local working culture with groups who share the same environmental interests. Our international and national partners include WWF, BirdLife Finland, Aves Uruguay, Vida Silvestre, and The Osprey Foundation (Finland). Continuous stakeholder dialogue helps us to improve and foster transparency via participation.

International stakeholder forums

The Forests Dialogue

We participate in The Forests Dialogue (TFD), which is a civil society-driven, international multi-stakeholder dialogue platform that aims to forge relationships and spur collaborative action on the highest priority issues facing the world’s forests. The goal of TFD is to reduce conflict among stakeholders over the use and protection of vital forest resources. The founders of TFD are the World Bank, the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD), the World Resources Institute and the WWF. Yale University School of the Environment is facilitating the dialogue.
 
Science Based Targets Network

UPM is a member in the Science Based Targets Network (SBTN) Corporate Engagement Program and participates in the development and testing of tools, methodology and guidance for setting science-based targets for the preservation of nature. The vision of the network is to ensure that cities and companies operate within environmental boundaries so that both nature and people can thrive. To achieve this goal, the network is developing a set of science-based targets concerning freshwater, land, biodiversity and oceans intended for widespread adoption.

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Our forests are open to all

Forests are a source of nutrition and an inspiring setting for many hobbies or just spending time in nature. Sustainable forestry recognises and safeguards the many ways in which forests are used. We make a dedicated effort to preserve the character of areas with special recreational or cultural value. We offer the free access to our forests in Finland and in the USA; entry is restricted only for safety reasons during ongoing harvesting. In Uruguay we provide recreational access to protected areas such as Mafalda.

Non-timber forest products include berries, mushrooms and wild herbs commonly utilised by local communities all over the world. Hunting is linked to cultural heritage, while also being a popular hobby especially in rural areas.

In addition to their popular domestic use, many non-timber forest products have a remarkable commercial market, thus adding to the economic benefits that forests provide. While the recreational use of forests is limited in certain countries, Finland adheres to the practice of “everyman’s right” to roam freely and pick berries and mushrooms in forests, even on privately owned land. The landowner’s permission is not required, but disturbing or damaging the natural environment is naturally prohibited. In the USA we have an agreement with the State of Minnesota to allow recreational access to UPM forests.

Forest owners decide what
we can do in their forests

We purchase wood from private forest owners and manage their forests in Finland. We listen to their needs and requests closely, taking them into account when preparing proposals for forest management. When discussing with them to support their decision making, we are able to share our knowledge gathered over many years of managing UPM forests and from various joint projects with researchers and organisations. Feedback from our customers regarding our way of working and the quality of our work is an essential part in developing our operations.

We put safety first

The health, safety and security of employees, contractors, visitors and all others impacted by our company is of paramount importance to UPM. We aim to be the industry leader in safety. We have company-wide safety principles in place, and we follow strict safety procedures and practices. A zero-accident culture is our common goal. We provide comprehensive occupational health care and a healthy working environment.