Forest Management Certification Assessment Report for - Rainforest ...

In cases where the non-conformance is very minor, or the team considered that future nonconformancemight result if some action is not taken, the team has issued an Observation. Asdefined by FSC and SmartWood, an Observation is a voluntary action suggested by the assessmentteam. It is not mandatory but serves as a warning signal that a particular matter may lead to a CARin future annual audits.Following is a list of the 17 Observations issued in this report.ObservationTembec should develop a dispute resolution policy that applies to tenureholders and contractors either by adding these interests to the existingcorporate dispute resolution policy or creating a new policy.Tembec should resolve concerns being raised by rights holders, localforest workers and local residents (see sections 4.1, 4.2 and 4.4) to avoidthe potential for disputes in the future.Tembec should immediately complete Action Item 3 on the ProcurementStrategy Implementation Work Plan (dated November 2004) related toTembec’s development of a written summary of existing procurementprocedures, practices and requirements for pulp, sawmill and FRMwoodlands.Tembec should implement a system to ensure contractors provide wagesand benefits consistent with the industry standard.Tembec should implement a system to ensure contractorsadhere toindicators of the FSC-BC Regional Standards relevant to their activities onthe management unit.Tembec should include a written listing of community employmenttransition services that are available to displaced employees with theirtermination notices to avoid concerns about the services Tembec providesto displaced employees.Tembec should communicate its employment and contracting policies andpractices to the Creston Town Council and interested citizens in theCreston area to clarify how the company provides opportunities for localemployment and services.Tembec should refine its public participation plan by including contractorsand angling guides in the list of user/focus groups in the SFMP, clarifyingresponsibility for distribution of plan review notifications to range tenureholders, and reconsidering a longer timeline for notification about roaddeactivation plans.Tembec should consider whether the differences in how public concernsabout planning versus operations are documented and reported within thecompany create differences in how they are addressed by staff. If thereare differences in how they are dealt with, these should be reconciled.Tembec should assess whether current staffing levels and resources areadequate to address planning and operational issues related to the rightsand interests of the directly affected persons and groups in the operatingReferenceStandard #2.3.22.3.33.1.24.1.24.1.34.1.54.1.64.4.14.4.14.4.2Page 49 of 89