Sino-Forest Donates US$2 Million to Sichuan Earthquake Relief Effort
TORONTO, June 5 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — Sino-Forest Corporation (“Sino-Forest”) (TSX:TRE and TRE.S), a leading commercial forestry plantation operator in China, announced on its May 26 annual general meeting that the company plans to donate US$2 million in support of the relief and reconstruction efforts in China’s Sichuan province following the devastating earthquake which hit the country on May 12, 2008.
The donation will specifically be used for the rebuilding of schools, replacement of education materials and provide monetary support to voluntary groups offering post-trauma counseling and therapy to treat victims suffering from this terrible tragedy. The donation will be ear-marked to various volunteer groups chosen by Sino-Forest who are involved in such efforts.
Currently China has approximately 14,000 psychiatrists and psychologists serving a population of 1.3 billion. According to recent news reports, approximately 600,000 people are believed to be in need of psychological treatment in Sichuan province and, if not treated, could impact longer-term community recovery efforts.
About Sino-Forest Corporation
Sino-Forest Corporation is a leading commercial forestry plantation operator in China. The Canadian company started its operations in 1994 and was the first foreign and privately managed operator involved in forest products in China. Its principal businesses include the ownership and management of forestry plantation trees and sales of standing timber, wood logs, and complementary manufacturing of downstream engineered-wood products. The Corporation’s common shares have traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol TRE since 1995.
Sino-Forest Corporation
CONTACT: SINO-FOREST CORPORATION: Toronto: Dave Horsley – Senior VicePresident & Chief Financial Officer, Tel: (905) 281-8889, Email:davehorsley@sinoforest.com; Hong Kong: Louisa Wong – Senior Manager, InvestorCommunications & Relations, Tel: +852 2514-2109, Email:louisa-wong@sinoforest.com