Logs & Lumber Ltd. Approach to FSC Forest Certification
Logs & Lumber Ltd. embraced the concept of FSC Forest Certification under the Smartwood certification programme in 2006. The company became a registered participant of the WWF-Global Forest & Trade Network (GFTN) the same year. This initiative was in response to the global market demand that seeks to ensure that Timber producing companies demonstrate their compliance with international standards for responsible forestry and that their operations are sustainable in the long term.
The company envisages the following benefits from being certified:
Increases its market share
Encourages minimization of waste in harvesting and onsite processing
Provides competitive advantage
Improves public image of the company
Ensure compliance with local and international treaties
Better access to higher value markets
and above all promotes sustainability of the company through sustainable forest management
The company has made a lot of progress in the following areas:
HIGH CONSERVATION VALUE FORESTS (HCVFs)
In order to demonstrate the company’s commitment to protecting conservation values in its forests, the company has trained its stock survey team on how to identify HCVs. This led to the identification of the bareheaded rock fowl in the Nkrabea Forest Reserve. The findings were corroborated by Ghana Wildlife Society (GWS). Recently, the company contracted ProForest to carry out HCVs assessment in all its Concessions/TUC areas, which has since been completed.
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Bare-headed rock fowl (Picathartes gymnocephalus) was found by our Stock survey team in the Nkrabea Forest reserve and corroborated by GWS Photo: by Augustus Asamoah, Ghana Wildlife Society |
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SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY AGREEMENT
LLL is committed to addressing the social needs of its Forest Fringe communities, and other surrounding communities within its processing plant. Several infrastructural developmental have taken place over the years. The company has over the years maintained a cordial relationship with all its fringe and surrounding communities.
COMMUNITY EDUCATION PROGRAMMES
The company has in recent times been carrying out community sensitization programmes in Social Responsibility Agreement, Sustainable Forest Management and with WWF-GFTN
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| Community education programme at Banka (Pra Anum F/R) |
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| Community education programme at Ajoafua (C) and Yawkrom (D) of the Bia North & Sui River F/Rs respectively | |
REDUCE IMPACT LOGGING TRAINING BY FORM INTERNATIONAL
To ensure that our logging is environmentally responsible and conforms to high environmental standards, Reduce Impact Logging training was conducted for all our logging teams by FORM International Netherlands.
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FORN Instructor taking Chainsaw operator through servicing of their chainsaws before felling starts |
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Directional felling method been applied by Chainsaw operators under the tutelage of FORM instructor |
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A group picture of FORM, LLL & WWF staff during the RIL training |
RIL training at the company log yard |
