In August 2001, the World Wildlife Fund came under heavy criciticisms from Australian non-governmne torganisations for agreeing to have its logo displayed in Boise Office Technology's products catalogue, alongside Boise's own "mascot" Sam the Sugar glider.

Boise Cascade Partners With World Wide Fund for Nature
Boise Cascade is one of the worst transnational logging companies in the world. Its many scandals include: involvement in false imprisonment of peasant environmentalists who opposed Boise's logging in Mexico; a huge proposed woodchipping scheme in Southern Chile; threats of lawsuits and harassment to environmentalists, including a recent threat to ECO's Cath Wallace; and involvement with the campaign to get the Rainforest Action Network's tax-deductibility status removed. Thanks to the World Wide Fund for Nature, however, the company just got a green makeover. Boise Cascade's Australian office products catalog showcases the company's new image. The front cover shows a picture of an endangered turtle, above the WWF logo and a caption that reads, "Supporter of the World Wide Fund For Nature." The rest of the catalogue is scattered with similar references to WWF and eco-friendly icons such as a panda, a Siberian tiger, a black rhino, and Boise Cascade's mascot, "Sam the Sugar Glider" (with no mention that sugar gliders, one of Australia's most endangered species, are very susceptible to logging)⁶².

WWF Australia indicated subsequently that this arrangement was designed to increase the recognition of the WWF brand, was not a formal financial sponsorship arrangement and did not imply an endorsement of Boise cascade's activities:

63Butcher, David, 2001. Letter to the National Forest Summit 21/08/01

WWF and Boise Technology Australia:

There has recently been some concern expressed regarding WWF Australia's acceptance of free advertising from Boise Technology Australia.Earlier this year, WWF was contacted by Boise Technology Australia with a view to discussing an offer to take up free advertising space in their annual office product catalogues...

In the United States, WWF has repeatedly and publicly stated its concerns over Boise Cascade's current and planned logging operations, both domestically and abroad. WWF has campaigned extensively for Boise Cascade to reconsider logging in the Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument of Oregon, and investing in a mill that was to be sited in the largest remaining area of temperate rainforest in the southern hemisphere, the Valdivian forests of Chile. WWF continues to campaign against the company's legal efforts in the U.S. to overturn the designation as "roadless areas" of the last remaining wilderness areas in the U.S. National Forest system. So, as you can see, WWF has indeed chosen to work in solidarity with many organizations and communities in several countries to challenge Boise Cascade's logging operations in forests of exceptional biodiversity value...

In light of the reaction that we have experienced from some parts of the conservation movement, this relationship should not have occurred, and I will certainly not repeat it. I suppose it proves that I am not perfect, and that is why we continually review our policies on engagement with business and industry, under what conditions we accept funding, and how we accept other services that might be offered.

Yours sincerely,

David Butcher, CEO, WWF Australia ⁶³

64www.Boise.com.au/corp/abt_fm.html

Boise Cascade Office Products continues to make use of Sam the Sugar Glider although environmental sponsorship is confined to advertising support for the Healesville wildlife sanctuary⁶⁴.