The certification covers more than 6.1m acres of forest, making it the single largest FSC certificate to be issued in the province of Quebec to date.

David Paterson, president and chief executive officer, said: "The FSC certification of these Quebec woodlands provides an additional independent confirmation of the sustainability of our forest management practices and underscores our commitment to the natural resources under our care."

AbitibiBowater produces a range of newsprint, commercial printing papers, market pulp and wood products. It is the eighth largest publicly traded pulp and paper manufacturer in the world.