Environmental audit and certification of the sustainable management of Hevea wood plantations in Kumpulan Guthrie.
Consumers in developed countries are requesting the certification of tropical wood products to ensure sustainability in forest resources. Malaysia has subscribed to the International Tropical Timber Organisation (ITTO) Year 2000 target for certification based on sustainable development guidelines. Kumpulan Guthrie, a private company, subjected two of its rubber plantations to a forest audit and wood product certification in 1994. The audit process (carried out by SGS Silvicult, Oxford, UK) involved3 steps: the site visit, the actual assessment, and the trace of supply chain to the door manufacturer for the biggest DIY retailer in UK. The site visit entailed meeting with the plantation staff and workers. The assessment was done using the principlesand criteria for forest management of the European Forest Stewardship Council (EFSC), an international accreditation organization. The key 5 issues used in the assessment are: compliance with international and local regulations; socioeconomic acceptability of the land use by workers and local communities; encouragement of efficient use of forest multiple products and services; minimization of adverse impact on the environment and ecosystem; and implementation of a definite and up-to-date written management plan for sustainable replanting without new clearing of forest. On the basis of the findings by the Audit team, the 2 Guthrie estates were certified as well managed according to EFSC principles and criteria. Kumpulan Guthrie views the certification exercise positively in that certification (1) satisfies the customer's demand for the environment friendliness of tropical timber, (2) assures overseas markets of a product's environmental worthiness, (3) provides further incentives for sustainable forestmanagement, and (4) makes manufacturers accountable for the environmental impact of their products.
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Texto biblioteca |
| Language: | ng |
| Published: |
©199
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| Subjects: | Agricultura sostenible., Biodiversidad., Caucho., Madera., Malaysia, Medio ambiente., Sostenibilidad., |
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