Africa

Danzer Group’s goal is to manage its forests well and sustainably to secure a long-term supply of high-quality wood. In Africa this means eventually certification to FSC^® (Forest Stewardship Council^®).
Danzer Group’s African subsidiaries IFO (Republic of Congo) and SIFORCO (Democratic Republic of Congo) manage a combined total forest area of 3.2 million hectares (7.9 million acres) as concessions.
The tropical forests in West- and Central Africa are valuable renewable resources. Development of a sustainable forest and wood economy is an economic and social incentive for the population to maintain the forest cover.

It has to be determined which forest areas are available on a long-term basis for forestry and which, due to their uniqueness, have to be preserved as protected areas and national parks.

Legality

Independent legality verification confirms that IFO’s and SIFORCO’s forest management and wood procurement is compliant with the law. (Please find in the column on the right the link to the respective certification body’s website).
This requires the adherence to the forest and manufacturing regulations, to workers’ rights and the rights of the local population. It is also verified (a) that IFO and SIFORCO have paid taxes, made social contributions such as schools and hospitals and (b) that required licenses and permits have been properly obtained and managed. In addition, a chain of custody verification ensures the origin of the timber.

Selective Logging

IFO and SIFORCO practice selective logging and do not use a clear-cut system in the forest. Selective means the companies take 0.3 to 0.5 tree per hectare (3 to 6 cubic metres volume per hectare) which is equal to one tree within an area four times the size of a soccer field. The harvest covers only 1/30 of the total forest area, ones every 30 years. On average, industrial timber represents 0.3 m³ (0.4 cubic yards) per hectare of production forest per year in the Congo Basin. In terms of volume per forest area, this represents one-eighth of the volume per area harvested in the temperate forests of North America and Europe. Regeneration and ingrowth of younger trees takes place naturally. This occurs fast in the dynamic tropical rain forests. The foundation for good forest management in the tropics is maintaining enough young trees and using natural regeneration rather than planting trees in a dense and diversified forest.

Forest Management Plan

A forest management plan provides the basis for the sustainable use of forests as well as the efficient utilization of wood. It also takes into account the rights and needs of the local population.
IFO has the largest single timber concession in the tropics with an approved forest management plan and certified according to the FSC Forest Management standard. The plan is based on extensive ecological and socio-economic studies. It determines the annual allowable cut and encompasses protection measures for plants, wildlife and human settlements. Due to an extensive inventory, the volume and species to be harvested during the next 30 years and beyond have been identified. To reduce the impact of harvesting, all trees to be harvested are positioned on detailed maps, by aid of GPS coordinates. (More information can be downloaded in the column on the right).

WWF & FSC

The forest management plan is the foundation for FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) certification. IFO obtained FSC certification in February 2009 in cooperation with the WWF (World Wide Fund for Nature). FSC is regarded as the “gold standard” for forest certification and is recognized by environmental NGO’s like WWF (World Wide Fund for Nature), IUCN (International Union for the Conservation of Nature) and Greenpeace.

FSC certification is also planned for SIFORCO ‘s forest concessions. After each of the concessions fulfilled the criteria of a government-appointed commission’s legality verification in the so called conversion process, work has now begun on drafting comprehensive forest management plans. Here, too, Danzer Group and WWF will work together.

Combating Poverty

Responsible forest management means also contributing to the sustainable development of the region and countries we operate, in particular combating poverty. Danzer Group has made significant investments in Africa by setting up local wood-processing plants. It has skilled a workforce and has generated tax and export revenues. Also, Danzer Group has built schools, roads and small hospitals at its operations.