30 Apr 2007 - WWF staff
visited the Barama Company Ltd (BCL) forest
concession in Guyana during late February/early
March 2007 to observe the company’s on-the-ground
response to the suspension of its Forest
Stewardship Council (FSC) certificate and
the corresponding corrective action requests
issued by SGS Qualifor in January 2007.
The WWF visit was a follow-up to the meeting
between BCL, FSC and WWF held in Bonn in
February 2007 to review the findings of
the SGS Qualifor and Accreditation Services
International audits that led to this suspension
and the actions necessary by BCL to secure
the reinstatement of the FSC certificate.
The visit was NOT a pre-audit inspection
of BCL's operations by WWF.
The visit included a limited survey of
compartment 5 of the BCL concession, the
Buck Hill sawmill and management centre,
main field camp (km 70 sub-camp), logging
crew camps, as well as three non-BCL concessions
where BCL is currently conducting harvesting
operations.
The main findings were as follows:
1. Forest management activities in Compartment
5 of the BCL concession include a solid
geographic information system (GIS), well-organized
harvest planning, log-tracking and road
network systems, and the general application
of many principles of reduced impact logging
(RIL).
2. Average harvest rates on the BCL concession
have been lower than the volumes authorized
by the Guyana Forest Commission, though
BCL plans to increase harvest levels in
line with the annual allowable cut as determined
by the Commission. However, additional emphasis
is needed on the silvicultural management
of those species being harvested the heaviest.
Analysis is being conducted of data from
permanent plots to monitor forest dynamics,
which should be used to adapt forest management
systems to ensure viable commercial populations
of these species in the future.
3. While the BCL management practices on
third-party concession lands observed over
a limited area during this short visit appear
to be following basic BCL standards regarding
GIS, planning, log-tracking and road construction,
RIL is not being practised on these lands.
BCL indicated that the investment required
to implement RIL on these third-party concessions
is difficult to justify given their lack
of long-term tenure i.e. these concession
owners could terminate the supply contracts
with BCL at any given time.
4. While some aspects concerning workers'
living conditions, health and sanitation
were being improved, others remain wanting.
BCL appears, however, to have taken this
issue seriously and is making many improvements
since the SGS Qualifor surveillance audit
of November 2006. Whether these efforts
are sufficient to meet the FSC standard
needs to be further assessed.
5. Although numerous studies and plans for
a range of responsible forestry practices,
particularly on environmental impact assessment
(EIA) and monitoring, have been prepared
over the years, these have not been fully
implemented. Particular emphasis is needed
to ensure effective restoration of disturbed
sites such as retired log landings, erosion
control on retired road networks and minimal
disturbance during road construction. BCL
has acquired the necessary machinery to
address the road maintenance and construction
issues since the SGS Qualifor surveillance
audit of November 2006.
6. While BCL does have a detailed management
plan for compartment 5, where current harvesting
is focused, this is lacking for compartment
4. Since compartment 4 also falls under
the scope of the suspended FSC certificate,
it should be covered under the forest management
plan. However, BCL indicated that there
is no access currently to compartment 4
and harvesting operations are not scheduled
there until 2009. Compartments 1, 2 and
3, which have been previously harvested,
were not included in the scope of the original
FSC certificate issued by SGS Qualifor.
7. BCL's multi-national and multi-cultural
team has many strengths and potential. The
staff's collective experience has been put
to good use, especially in logistics and
planning of such a large operation. However,
the cultural differences, operating customs
and language barriers also present a significant
management challenge.
8. There is a lack of consistent decision-making
and authority by BCL managers who truly
understand the details of FSC certification
and cutting-edge, modern sustainable forestry
practices. High staff turnover in management,
coupled with the cross-cultural challenges
mentioned above, have inhibited consistent
application of BCL policies. This situation
has also exacerbated a breakdown in dialogue
with many key stakeholders.
9. BCL needs to make a concerted and sustained
effort to improve its internal and external
communications, and to engage with Guyanese
stakeholders to advance responsible forestry
practices and independent certification.
There was a general negative perception
of BCL among many of those interviewed during
this visit.
WWF has transmitted these findings to BCL.
Continued WWF support to BCL towards the
reinstatement of its FSC certificate will
be considered in light of BCL’s response
to the above challenges. WWF has reiterated
its call to both BCL and its parent company,
Samling, to make a high-level commitment
to responsible forestry according to the
rigorous standards of FSC.
Dominiek Plouvier
WWF Guianas Regional Representative, Suriname
Tel: +597 42 2357
