Brussels, Belgium / St. Junien, France, – International Paper is announcing the recent opening of an educational forest trail in the French Limousin region where its Saillat pulp and paper mill is located. The trail invites visitors to a live experience of sustainable forest management practices and demonstrates some of the specific measures International Paper and its wood procurement subsidiary Le Comptoir des Bois de Brive are applying to protect and sustain ecosystems.  

Laid out in a forest close to the company’s Saillat mill and featuring a lake and a wide variety of tree species, the trail is an ideal location for observing natural environments and local standing timber. Aiming at educating about the forest’s ecosystem and its three essential roles – social, ecological and economic - the two-kilometer long trail offers information about specific themes in seven stations, including the mill’s wood supply, forest wetland, tree species, natural habitats and others. Signboards on each station facilitate the tour. 

The trail also includes an arboretum planted in spring 2013 as part of a European project aiming to measure the impact of climate change on various species of trees. The arboretum includes 1,296 trees covering 36 species from English oak to Eucalyptus and Gingko Biloba. 

Philippe d’Adhémar, Mill General Director at International Paper’s Saillat mill, explains that, "The Saillat mill has been in the region for over 100 years, and as part of our long-standing commitment to sustainability, we want to help inform and educate about the importance of sustainable forest management to preserve local forests for future generations.” He added that “Our forest trail is a very hands-on way to engage our stakeholders.”