Alliance Forest Products Inc. Receives Major National Forest Management Award

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TO FORESTRY AND ENVIRONMENT EDITORS:

Alliance Forest Products Inc. Receives Major National Forest Management Award

CANADA, QUEBEC, MONTREAL, Feb. 9 -/E-Wire/-- Alliance Forest Products Inc. is pleased to announce that it received the "Forest Stewardship Recognition Award", under the Eastern Canadian companies category, from Wildlife Habitat Canada. The Company earned this award for the extensive application since 1995 of an innovative forest harvesting method known as mosaic cutting.

The mosaic cutting method used by Alliance Forest Products Inc. entails dividing annual harvesting of mature forest blocks into essentially two successive cuts at different times and different areas. In the first cut (year 1), roughly half of the cutblock is harvested. And the second cut occurs 10 to 15 years later when regeneration in the blocks harvested in year 1 has reached about 3 metres (10 feet) in height. This approach considerably reduces the impact of harvesting on wildlife species as well as forest landscapes, facilitates access to the territory for the many forest users and helps restrict the spread of forest fires.

Wildlife Habitat Canada (WHC) is a national, non-profit, conservation organization that was established in 1984 by Environment Canada, provincial wildlife agencies and conservation agencies within the wildlife habitat coalition.

The "Forest Stewardship Recognition Award" is presented as part of a national program to recognize outstanding efforts to conserve biodiversity in Canadian forests. This recognition program was set up by Wildlife Habitat Canada, the Forest Products Association of Canada, the Canadian Forest Service and the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources.

Visibly pleased with this tribute, Alliance President and Chief Executive Officer PIERRE MONAHAN said, "Alliance Forest Products Inc. has been pro- active years before the onset of the public debate on the management of the Canadian boreal forest. Our use of mosaic cutting over extensive areas is tangible proof of the Company's and our personnel's concern for protecting the environment and forest ecosystems."

JEAN-S. LEBEL, Vice-President, Sawmills and Woodlands, is equally pleased, "The decision taken in 1995 to use mosaic cutting despite the higher costs involved has proven to be a visionary and courageous move. We are continuing discussions with government authorities responsible for public forests about the government adopting incentives that will result in an increased use of this harvesting method. The award presented to us by Wildlife Habitat Canada underscores the importance of promoting the use of this innovative practice for the conservation of forest biodiversity."

This tribute is one of many others the Company has received for its use of mosaic cutting. Last fall, Alliance Forest Products Inc. was presented the "Prix Alexis", a regional award issued in the Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean region of Quebec by the "Wood Works!" organization. Finally, the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation aired a national program on its French network last September featuring the innovative nature of this harvesting method.

Alliance Forest Products Inc. is an integrated company specializing in timber harvesting and forest management, as well as in the production and sale of pulp, newsprint, uncoated groundwood papers, lumber and related products. The Company has operations in Canada and the United States. The common shares of Alliance Forest Products Inc. are listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol ALP and on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol PFA.

Alliance Forest Products Inc.

Georges Cabana, Senior Vice-President, Human Resources and Public Affairs,(514) 954-2101

http://www.alliance-forest.com

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