Forest Certification in Developing and Transitioning ... - UTas ePrints

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forest certification in developing and transitioning countries
framework of the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI). Periodic independent thirdparty
audits, particularly in environmental and social matters have become a regular
activity, whereas before the focus had been only on financial audits.
Environmental
Most of the companies under certification assessment have a low score on environment
indicators, which includes biodiversity protection, conservation area management,
procedures and strategies for logging-road construction, and monitoring and
evaluation of environmental impacts. The most common practice to improve forest
management is the application of RIL. Some companies get technical assistance from
organizations such as the Tropical Forest Foundation. Companies face difficulties in
understanding and interpreting the concept of HCVF, with some working with
NGOs or other relevant organization to improve their knowledge.
Companies believe that many of the issues related to non-compliance are well recognized.
Certification helps to identify specific weaknesses and to generate new
knowledge and skills to meet the criteria and indicators. Internal and external training
about certification is acquired and it contributes to improved awareness of the
environmental aspects through improvements to the log harvesting system, especially
with the introduction of low impact forestry (RIL). Two concessionaires in East
Kalimantan that belong to the East Kalimantan Certification Working Group
(Kelompok Kerja Sertifikasi Kalimantan Timur (KKS)) have received technical assistance
from GTZ’s Sustainable Forest Management Project (SFMP).
SFMP-GTZ recommended the government make RIL an important requirement
in evaluating and monitoring the performance of concessionaires. The central government
responded very well by issuing a circular letter from the Directorate General
of Production Forest Management (No. 274/ 2001), stated that RIL needs to be implemented
in the concessions. The establishment of forest conservation reserves in the
forest management unit area has also been stimulated by certification. For example,
PT Sumalindo Lestari Jaya II has allocated an area for HCFVs of about 50,000 ha. PT
Intracawood Manufacturing is cooperating with The Nature Conservancy (TNC) to
help identify HCVF in their working area.
As a precondition to certification, DRT, in cooperation with Indonesian Research
and Science Institute (LIPI) and Bogor Agriculture University (IPB), is implementing
a mangrove ecosystem study. The study also covers Ramin regeneration, wildlife
monitoring, growth analysis, and taxonomy. Certification has also stimulated DRT to
conserve about 10 percent of its forest area in every felling compartment as a wildlife
corridor and seed source for natural regeneration. This has had a significant impact
upon the availability of the seedling trees for natural regeneration. It is well known
that the survival rate for manmade ramin regeneration in swamp forests is very low,
so by allocating more land for seedlings, it is expected that natural regeneration will
improve in the future.
yale school of forestry & environmental studies