KIBCA Welcomes KFPL Sale

KIBCA welcomes the sale of 60% of KFPL, a forest plantation company, to Taiwanese company Nien Made Enterprise Company.

The sale was completed on Monday 11 April 2011 when the Solomon Islands government ministers and Nien Made Enterprise signed the paperwork.

Prior to the sale, KFPL was 100% owned by the Solomon Islands government.

“KIBCA welcomes this week’s sale of KFPL to Nien Made Enterprise Company”, said Mr Ferguson Vaghi, KIBCA Coordinator.

“We are pleased that the new owner has committed to retaining the FSC certification of KFPL's operations. This means that the good environmental and social outcomes that KFPL has put in place to meet Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) requirements will continue.”

“KIBCA is looking forward to working with Nien Made Enterprise for the conservation of Kolombangara Island and in particular to continuing the joint management of the 400m altitude conservation area on the KFPL fixed term estate.”

KFPL's fixed term estate, over which KFPL has a 75 year lease, covers about 70% of Kolombangara Island.

“KIBCA has a strong and healthy relationship with KFPL and we expect this to continue under the new ownership”, said Mr Vaghi.

“KIBCA will be presenting a paper at the upcoming Australian and New Zealand Institutes of Forestry Conference in Auckland on 2-5 May recognizing the importance of the relationship with KFPL for KIBCA’s conservation work.”

Contact:Ferguson Vaghi on 60 987 (w) or 740 1198 (mob)