WASHINGTON - The International Council of Forest and Paper Associations (ICFPA) announced Donna Harman as its new President. Harman, president and CEO of the American Forest & Paper Association, will serve in this capacity for the next two years.

ICFPA is a global network of forest and paper industry associations that promote cooperation and dialogue in areas of common interest to its members and serves as the industry’s advocate in international organizations. ICFPA takes positions on a variety of policy issues, such as climate change and illegal logging. The ICFPA membership consists of 41 forest and paper associations from North America, South America, Africa, Europe, Asia and Oceania, representing more than 90 percent of the world’s paper production and more than 50 percent of its wood production.

“The forest and paper industry manufactures products that serve the everyday needs of people around the world, and I look forward to representing the global forest and paper industry in the coming years,” said Harman.

Together with the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization, ICFPA is organizing a forestry side event at the Rio+20 global conference on sustainable development, which will be held next month in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. As ICFPA president, Harman will co-chair the event titled “Forests: The Heart of a Green Economy” on June 18.

Harman succeeds Teresa Presas, director general of the Confederation of European Paper Industries (CEPI), as ICFPA president.

“On behalf of all ICFPA members, I would like to thank Teresa for her outstanding leadership over the past six years,” said Harman. “Her commitment and guidance have made ICFPA a strong voice for the global forest products industry.”

Source: American Forest & Paper Association