Georgia Wildlife Federation Names International Paper Forest Conservationist of the Year

Georgia Wildlife Federation Names International Paper Forest
Conservationist of the Year
International Paper Recognized for Landmark Partnership to Protect Land Around
Georgia's Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge 


MANSFIELD, Ga., June 2  /PRNewswire/ -- International Paper's contributions to
protecting some 16,000 acres of forestland near the Okefenokee National
Wildlife Refuge has earned the company the Georgia Wildlife Federation's 2005
"Forest Conservationist of the Year" award. The company, which voluntarily
relinquished land acquisition rights to prevent future mining on the property,
maintains a working forest on the land in a manner that ensures biodiversity,
including the protection of the Red-cockaded Woodpecker habitat; maintains
recreational opportunities; and helps the local economy.

(Logo:  http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20020701/IPLOGO )

"We are honored to receive this important conservation award," said Dr. Sharon
Haines, IP's director, sustainable forestry and forest policy. "International
Paper's professional foresters and wildlife biologists are truly dedicated to
wildlife conservation and to integrating conservation goals into our
Sustainable Forestry Initiative(R) program."

The Forest Conservationist of the Year Award, which was presented at a recent
awards ceremony in Mansfield, Ga., recognizes International Paper's ongoing
environmental conservation efforts in Georgia, particularly the company's
landmark partnership with DuPont last year. International Paper, which had
already donated nearly 17,000 acres to the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge
over the years, amended its original agreement with DuPont to further protect
the land by permanently retiring all mineral rights on the property. Through
this historic announcement, IP continued its long-standing commitment to
prevent the land from being developed and to conserve biodiversity while
managing a working forest.

In December of 2004, International Paper also signed an agreement with the U.S.
Fish and Wildlife Service to create and manage 6,700 acres of feeding habitat
for the Red-cockaded Woodpecker, a federally-listed endangered species. The
agreement is an extension of IP's commitment to stabilize the population of
Red-cockaded Woodpeckers and contribute to the further improvement of wildlife
habitat in forested areas.

"International Paper is a true leader in forest conservation in the state of
Georgia," said Jerry McCollum, president and CEO, Georgia Wildlife Federation.
"Their long-standing commitment to preserving our state's wildlife and natural
resources and their commitment to working collaboratively with environmental
organizations is truly outstanding and should serve as an inspiration to other
companies across the region."

Earlier this year, International Paper and its partners -- Environmental
Defense, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Georgia Department of Natural
Resources -- celebrated the five-year anniversary of International Paper's
award-winning Red-cockaded Woodpecker Habitat Conservation Plan. Implementation
of the landmark agreement has resulted in a dramatic increase in the
Red-cockaded Woodpecker population at International Paper's Southlands Forest
in Bainbridge, Ga.

"Our Red-cockaded Woodpecker Habitat Conservation Plan serves as a model for
public and private partnerships which can benefit imperiled species across the
United States," said Dr. Haines. "The program's success is a tribute to the
spirit of partnership and a shared commitment to environmental responsibility."

Across the country, International Paper actively manages habitat for more than
30 federally listed threatened or endangered species. In the South, these
species include the red-cockaded woodpecker, Red Hills salamander and American
bald eagle. IP's conservation efforts have been honored with the U.S.
Department of Interior's Conservation Science Award, the World Environment
Council's Gold Medal for Corporate Environmental Achievement and the American
Forest & Paper Association's Wildlife Stewardship Award.

All of the conservation enhancement components and reporting procedures are
compatible with the SFI(R) program. The SFI Standard is a voluntary forest
certification approach for ensuring that high environmental quality is
maintained on forest landscapes.

The Georgia Wildlife Federation's Conservation Legacy Awards, which are
presented annually in various areas of conservation, encourage the teaching and
practice of the responsible management of Georgia's natural resources. The
Georgia Wildlife Federation, a non-profit organization devoted to promoting the
responsible use and management of Peach State natural resources, has recognized
the efforts of outstanding individuals and companies at the annual Conservation
Achievement Awards ceremony since 1963.

International Paper's Forest Resources business, which is headquartered in
Memphis, Tenn., manages the company's forestlands and wood fiber supply. IP is
one of the largest private landowners in the U.S. with nearly 7 million acres
of forestland and more than 10 million acres worldwide. The company is also the
world's largest hardwood and pine tree seedling grower, producing nearly 400
million new trees each year. To date, IP professional foresters have grown more
than 8.5 billion trees, and the company will soon plant its 7 millionth acre of
forestland. Led by the Forest Resources business, IP is the first paper and
forest products company in North America to formalize an agreement with
NatureServe, a non-profit conservation group, to identify, protect and manage
"Forests with Exceptional Conservation Value."

International Paper (http://www.internationalpaper.com/) businesses include
paper, packaging and forest products. As one of the largest private landowners
in the world, IP professional foresters and wildlife biologists manage the
woods with great care in compliance with the rigorous standards of the
Sustainable Forestry Initiative(R) program. The SFI(R) program is an
independent certification system that ensures the perpetual planting, growing
and harvesting of trees while protecting biodiversity, wildlife, plants, soil,
water and air quality. In the U.S. alone, IP protects more than 1.5 million
acres of unique and environmentally important habitat on its forestlands
through conservation agreements and land sales to environmental groups. And,
the company has a long-standing policy of using no wood from endangered
forests. Headquartered in the United States, IP has operations in over 40
countries and sells its products in more than 120 nations. 

http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20020701/IPLOGODATASOURCE: International
Paper



CONTACT:  Rick Ouellette, [phone] for International Paper



Web site:  http://www.internationalpaper.com/ 

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