Groupe Decolvenaere

1. Sustainable forestry policy or commitment for all its operations?

2. Sustainable forestry policy or commitment applies to all suppliers?

3. High-level position of responsibility for sustainability?

4. One or more members within the board of the company have responsibility for sustainability?

5. Percentage or number of women in senior management team?

6. Percentage or number of women board members?

7. Member of multiple industry schemes or other external initiatives to reduce negative environmental or social outcomes associated with timber and pulp production?

[Externally verified] SFIL and GVI (Groupe Decolvenaere's companies in Cameroon) are both members of GFBC.

8. Collaboration with stakeholders to reduce negative environmental or social outcomes associated with timber and pulp production?

9. Sustainability report published within last two years?

10. Reports through standardised reporting systems?

11. Climate risks assessment available?

12. Natural capital assessment available?

13. Lists countries and operations?

The company's concessions and facilities are located in Cameroon.

14. Lists countries sourcing from?

The company reports that it sources from Cameroon.

15. Total area of natural forest designated for wood/wood fibre production (ha)?

The company's website states that its FMUs cover an area of 185,416 ha, however the website of its subsidiary, Decolvenaere Houtimport, states that it owns 300,000ha of concessions. As this information is undated and contradictory, no points have been awarded.

16. Total area of forest plantation (ha)?

This indicator is disabled as the company reports that it only produces wood/wood fibre from natural forests.

17. Area of plantation/natural forest within outgrower schemes (ha)?

18. Unplanted (areas designated for future development as plantation forest) (ha)?

This indicator is disabled as the company reports that it only produces wood/wood fibre from natural forests.

19. Conservation set-aside area, including HCV area (ha)?

20. Area of Intact Forest Landscape (ha)?

21. Number of Forest Management Units (FMUs)?

3 - The company reports that it owns 3 FMUs (2 under SFIL and 1 under Green Valley Inc.).

22. Maps of forest management units (FMUs)?

The company reports the maps of all three FMUs on its website (10-052, 10-025, 10-021). Additionally, the maps are also publicly available on the Open Timber Portal.

23. Forest management plans available for all FMUs?

Forest management plans are available for only two (UFA 10 052 and UFA10 021) out of the three FMUs.

24. Monitoring of forest management plan implementation available?

The company has only reported a public summary of results monitoring SFIL's FMU 10 052, hence, partial points are awarded.

25. Company has provided valid legal documents to Open Timber Portal on use right (at the time of SPOTT assessments)?

[Externally verified] The company has provided the Open Timber Portal with 1 out of the total 9 required valid legal documents on use right. Please note: Company scores on Open Timber Portal are updated daily. Visit the OTP website to review the company's current performance here: http://www.opentimberportal.org/operators.

26. Company has provided valid legal documents to Open Timber Portal on forest management (at the time of SPOTT assessments)?

[Externally verified] The company has provided the Open Timber Portal with 2 out of the total 6 required valid legal documents on forest management. Please note: Company scores on Open Timber Portal are updated daily. Visit the OTP website to review the company's current performance here: http://www.opentimberportal.org/operators.

27. Company has provided valid legal documents to Open Timber Portal on timber harvesting (at the time of SPOTT assessments)?

The company has provided the Open Timber Portal with 0 out of the total 12 required valid legal documents on timber harvesting. Please note: Company scores on Open Timber Portal are updated daily. Visit the OTP website to review the company's current performance here: http://www.opentimberportal.org/operators.

28. Names and locations of all third-party supplying FMUs?

29. Number of company owned sawmills?

2 - The company reports that it has two sawmills. However, the information is undated so no points can be awarded.

30. Names and locations of company owned sawmills?

31. Number of company-owned pulp and paper mills?

This indicator is disabled as the company reports that it does not own pulp or paper mills.

32. Names and locations of company-owned pulp and paper mills?

This indicator is disabled as the company reports that it does not own pulp or paper mills.

33. Reports total volumes (or percentages) sourced by company-owned sawmills that come from company's own operations and third-parties?

The company has not directly reported on its total volumes (or percentages) sourced by company-owned sawmills, however, they have stated that its supply is uninterrupted from its own concessions in Cameroon. As the information provided is undated and unclear, no points are awarded.

34. Reports total volumes (or percentages) sourced by company-owned pulp and paper mills that come from company's own operations and third-parties?

This indicator is disabled as the company reports that it does not own pulp or paper mills.

35. Number of third party supplying mills?

36. Names and locations of all third party supplying mills?

37. Reports total volume (or percentages) sourced from third-party supplying mills that come from the supplying mills' own operations and third parties?

38. Procedures to trace raw materials to country of harvest?

The company makes this commitment through the FSC Chain of Custody Certification Standard (FSC-STD-40-004 V3-1). Partial points have been awarded as the requirements do not full meet the SPOTT scoring criteria.

39. Percentage of supply traceable to country of harvest?

40. Procedures to trace raw materials to FMU level?

The company makes this commitment through the FSC Chain of Custody Certification Standard (FSC-STD-40-004 V3-1). Partial points have been awarded as the requirements do not full meet the SPOTT scoring criteria.

41. Percentage of supply traceable to FMU level?

42. Time-bound plan for achieving 100% third-party legality verification of FMUs or achieved?

All three company FMUs have been OLB certified (logging concessions and CoC) since 2016.

43. Percentage area (ha) verified as being in legal compliance by a third party?

100% - All FMUs controlled by the company had a valid OLB FM certificate.

44. Time-bound plan to source only wood/wood fibre that is in legal compliance verified by a third party?

45. Percentage of all wood/wood fibre supply traded/processed verified as being in legal compliance by a third party?

46. Percentage area (ha) FSC FM certified?

47. Time-bound plan for achieving 100% FSC FM certification of FMUs or achieved 100% FSC-certification of FMUs?

48. Percentage of wood/wood fibre supply (tonnes) from all suppliers that comes from FSC FM certified areas?

49. Commitment to source only wood/wood fibre that meets FSC Controlled Wood and/or PEFC Controlled Sources requirements?

50. Percentage area (ha) PEFC certified (excluding FSC certified area)?

51. Commitment to zero conversion of natural ecosystems?

52. Commitment to zero conversion of natural ecosystems applies to all suppliers?

53. Commitment to zero deforestation?

The company makes this commitment through the FSC Policy for Association (FSC-POL-01-004 V2-0). Full points have therefore been awarded on the basis of the company's FSC certification/membership.

54. Commitment to zero deforestation applies to all suppliers?

55. Criteria and cut-off date for defining deforestation and/or ecosystem conversion?

The company makes this commitment through the FSC Policy for Association (FSC-POL-01-004 V2-0). As the policy requirements do not fully meet the SPOTT indicator criteria partial points have been awarded on the basis of the company's certification/membership.

56. Evidence of monitoring deforestation and/or ecosystem conversion?

57. Evidence of monitoring deforestation and/or ecosystem conversion in supplier operations?

58. Amount of deforestation and/or ecosystem conversion recorded in own operations since cut-off date?

59. Amount of deforestation and/or ecosystem conversion recorded in supplier operations since cut-off date?

60. Commitment to restoration of deforestation/conversion?

61. Commitment to restoration of deforestation/conversion applies to all suppliers?

62. Implementing a landscape or jurisdictional level approach?

63. Biodiversity policy?

64. Biodiversity policy applies to all suppliers?

65. Identified species of conservation concern, referencing international or national system of species classification?

The company has identified several species of conservation concern. However, as no species classification system is referenced, only partial points have been awarded.

66. Examples of species and/or habitat conservation management?

67. Commitment to no hunting or only sustainable hunting of species?

Information reported is insufficient and unclear, therefore no points have been awarded.

68. Commitment to no hunting or only sustainable hunting of species applies to all suppliers?

69. Commitment to protect forest areas from illegal activities?

70. Commitment to protect forest areas from illegal activities applies to all suppliers?

71. Evidence of protecting forest areas from illegal activities?

72. Commitment to no use of genetically modified organisms?

This indicator is disabled as the company reports that it only produces wood/wood fibre from natural forests.

73. Commitment to no use of genetically modified organisms applies to all suppliers?

74. Commitment to conduct High Conservation Value (HCV) assessments?

The company makes this commitment through the FSC Policy for Association (FSC-POL-01-004 V2-0). Full points have therefore been awarded on the basis of the company's FSC certification/membership.

75. Commitment to conduct High Conservation Value (HCV) assessments applies to all suppliers?

76. High Conservation Value (HCV) assessments available?

A High Conservation Value (HCV) assessment is available for one Forest Management Unit.

77. High Conservation Value (HCV) management and monitoring plans available?

78. Commitment to the High Carbon Stock (HCS) Approach?

This indicator is disabled as the company reports that it only produces wood/wood fibre from natural forests.

79. Commitment to the High Carbon Stock (HCS) Approach applies to all suppliers?

80. High Carbon Stock (HCS) assessments available?

This indicator is disabled as the company reports that it only produces wood/wood fibre from natural forests.

81. Peer review of all High Carbon Stock (HCS) assessments undertaken since April 2015 by the HCSA Quality Assurance Process?

This indicator is disabled as the company reports that it only produces wood/wood fibre from natural forests.

82. Commitment to conduct social and environmental impact assessments (SEIAs)?

83. Commitment to conduct social and environmental impact assessments (SEIAs) applies to all suppliers?

84. Social and environmental impact assessments (SEIAs) available, and associated management and monitoring plans?

85. Company has provided valid legal documents to Open Timber Portal on impact assessments (at the time of SPOTT assessments)?

The company has provided the Open Timber Portal with 0 out of the total 3 required valid legal documents on impact assessments. Please note: Company scores on Open Timber Portal are updated daily. Visit the OTP website to review the company's current performance here: http://www.opentimberportal.org/operators.

86. Commitment to no planting on peat of any depth?

This indicator is disabled as the company reports that it only produces wood/wood fibre from natural forests.

87. Commitment to no planting on peat of any depth applies to all suppliers?

88. Landbank or planted area on peat (ha)?

89. Implementation of commitment to no planting on peat of any depth?

90. Commitment to best management practices for soils and peat?

91. Commitment to best management practices for soils and peat applies to all suppliers?

92. Evidence of best management practices for soils and peat?

93. Commitment to reduced impact logging?

The company's commitment to implementing reduced-impact logging techniques only covers one FMU (10 052).

94. Commitment to reduced impact logging applies to all suppliers?

95. Evidence of implementing reduced impact logging practices?

The company has provided evidence of implementing reduced impact logging practices in one FMU 10 052. However, as the data is over five years old, only partial points have been awarded.

96. Commitment to zero burning?

This indicator is disabled as the company reports that it only produces wood/wood fibre from natural forests.

97. Commitment to zero burning applies to all suppliers?

98. Evidence of fire monitoring and management?

99. Details/number of hotspots/fires in company FMUs?

100. Details/number of hotspots/fires in suppliers operations?

101. Time-bound commitment to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions intensity?

102. GHG emissions intensity?

103. GHG emissions from land use change?

This indicator is disabled as the company reports that it only produces wood/wood fibre from natural forests.

104. Progress towards commitment to reduce GHG emissions intensity?

105. Methodology used to calculate GHG emissions?

106. Time-bound commitment to improve water use intensity?

This indicator is disabled as the company reports that it does not own pulp or paper mills.

107. Water use intensity?

This indicator is disabled as the company reports that it does not own pulp or paper mills.

108. Progress towards commitment on water use intensity?

This indicator is disabled as the company reports that it does not own pulp or paper mills.

109. Time-bound commitment to improve water quality (BOD or COD)?

This indicator is disabled as the company reports that it does not own pulp or paper mills.

110. Progress towards commitment on water quality (BOD or COD)?

This indicator is disabled as the company reports that it does not own pulp or paper mills.

111. Treatment of pulp and paper mill effluent?

This indicator is disabled as the company reports that it does not own pulp or paper mills.

112. Evidence of sawmill run-off containment and wastewater treatment?

113. Proportion of processing facilities with closed-loop water treatment system?

This indicator is disabled as the company reports that it does not own pulp or paper mills.

114. Commitment to protect natural waterways through buffer zones?

115. Implementation of commitment to protect natural waterways through buffer zones?

116. Commitment to minimise the use of chemicals, including pesticides and chemical fertilisers?

The company mentions the prohibition of chemical use for its FMU 10 021. However, as the commitment is unclear, only partial points have been awarded.

117. Commitment to minimise the use of chemicals, including pesticides and chemical fertilisers, applies to all suppliers?

118. Evidence of eliminating chlorine and chlorine compounds for bleaching?

This indicator is disabled as the company reports that it does not own pulp or paper mills.

119. Commitment to no use of World Health Organisation (WHO) Class 1A and 1B pesticides?

120. Commitment to no use of World Health Organisation (WHO) Class 1A and 1B pesticides applies to all suppliers?

121. Commitment to no use of chemicals listed under the Stockholm Convention and Rotterdam Convention?

122. Commitment to no use of chemicals listed under the Stockholm Convention and Rotterdam Convention applies to all suppliers?

123. Chemical usage per ha or list of chemicals used?

124. Implementation of commitment to reduce chemical usage?

125. Integrated Pest Management (IPM) approach?

126. Waste management system in place to avoid negative impacts?

The company reports having a waste management plan for its FMU 10 052. However, very limited details are reported and the information is over five years old. Hence, no points are awarded.

127. Commitment to human rights?

The company makes this commitment through the FSC Policy for Association (FSC-POL-01-004 V2-0). Full points have therefore been awarded on the basis of the company's FSC certification/membership.

128. Commitment to human rights applies to all suppliers?

129. Progress on human rights commitment ?

130. Commitment to respect indigenous and local communities' rights?

The company makes this commitment through the FSC Policy for Association (FSC-POL-01-004 V2-0). Full points have therefore been awarded on the basis of the company's FSC certification/membership.

131. Commitment to indigenous and local communities' rights applies to all suppliers?

132. Commitment to respect legal and customary land tenure rights?

The company makes this commitment through the FSC Policy for Association (FSC-POL-01-004 V2-0). As the policy requirements do not fully meet the SPOTT indicator criteria partial points have been awarded on the basis of the company's certification/membership.

133. Commitment to legal and customary land rights applies to all suppliers?

134. Commitment to free, prior and informed consent (FPIC)?

The company commits to obtaining the consent of local populations, but this only covers one of the company's FMUs. Thus, only partial points have been awarded.

135. Commitment to free, prior and informed consent (FPIC) applies to all suppliers?

136. Details of free, prior and informed consent (FPIC) process available?

The company has reported details of the free, prior, and informed consent (FPIC) process.

137. Examples of local stakeholder engagement to prevent conflicts?

138. Details of process for addressing land conflicts available?

139. Supports the inclusion of women across forestry operations, including addressing barriers faced?

140. Company has provided valid legal documents to Open Timber Portal on population rights (at the time of SPOTT assessments)?

The company has provided the Open Timber Portal with 0 out of the total 6 required valid legal documents on population rights. Please note: Company scores on Open Timber Portal are updated daily. Visit the OTP website to review the company's current performance here: http://www.opentimberportal.org/operators.

141. Commitment to enable sustainable use of non-timber forest products (NTFPs) by local communities?

The company's commitment to enabling sustainable use of non-timber forest products (NTFPs) by local communities applies to one FMU (10 052). As a result, only partial points have been awarded.

142. Commitment to provide essential community services and facilities ?

The company's subsidiary, SFIL, has a social policy which reports the company's commitment to provide essential community services and facilities. However, this commitment does not cover all company operations, thus only partial points have been awarded.

143. Progress on commitment to provide essential community services and facilities?

144. Commitment to provide business/work opportunities for local communities?

145. Company has provided valid legal documents to Open Timber Portal on labour regulations (at the time of SPOTT assessments)?

The company has provided the Open Timber Portal with 0 out of the total 10 required valid legal documents on labour regulations. Please note: Company scores on Open Timber Portal are updated daily. Visit the OTP website to review the company's current performance here: http://www.opentimberportal.org/operators.

146. Commitment to Fundamental ILO Conventions or Free and Fair Labour Principles?

The company makes this commitment through the FSC Policy for Association (FSC-POL-01-004 V2-0). Full points have therefore been awarded on the basis of the company's FSC certification/membership.

147. Commitment to Fundamental ILO Conventions or Free and Fair Labour Principles applies to all suppliers?

148. Progress on commitment to respect all workers' rights?

149. Commitment to eliminate gender related discrimination with regards to employment?

150. Commitment to eliminate gender related discrimination with regards to employment applies to all suppliers?

151. Progress on commitment to eliminate gender related discrimination with regards to employment?

152. Percentage or number of temporary employees?

153. Percentage or number of women employees?

154. Commitment to pay a living wage?

155. Commitment to pay a living wage applies to all suplliers?

156. Progress on commitment to pay a living wage?

157. Reporting of salary by gender?

158. Commitment to address occupational health and safety?

The company makes this commitment through the FSC Chain of Custody Certification Standard (FSC-STD-40-004 V3-1). Partial points have been awarded as the requirements do not full meet the SPOTT scoring criteria.

159. Commitment to address occupational health and safety applies to all suppliers?

160. Provision of personal protective equipment and related training?

Limited, externally verified points have been awarded on the basis of the company's FSC Chain of Custody certification (FSC-STD-40-004 V3-1) as the requirements do not fully meet the SPOTT indicator criteria.

161. Time lost due to work-based injuries?

162. Number of fatalities as a result of work-based accidents?

163. Commitment to support smallholders?

164. Programme to support outgrower scheme and/or independent smallholders?

165. Number or percentage of outgrower scheme and/or independent smallholders involved in programme?

166. Process used to prioritise, assess and/or engage suppliers on compliance with company's policy and/or legal requirements?

167. Number or percentage of suppliers assessed and/or engaged on compliance with company's policy and/or legal requirements?

168. Suspension or exclusion criteria for suppliers?

The company makes this commitment through the FSC Chain of Custody Certification Standard (FSC-STD-40-004 V3-1). Partial points have been awarded as the requirements do not full meet the SPOTT scoring criteria.

169. Timebound action plans (including Key Performance Indicators) for suppliers to be in compliance with timber and pulp sourcing commitments?

170. Proportion of direct and indirect supply that comes from FMUs which are compliant with timber and pulp sourcing policies?

171. Commitment to ethical conduct and prohibition of corruption?

172. Commitment to ethical conduct and prohibition of corruption applies to all suppliers?

173. Progress on commitment to ethical conduct and prohibition of corruption?

174. Company has provided valid legal documents to Open Timber Portal on legal registration (at the time of SPOTT assessments)?

[Externally verified] The company has provided the Open Timber Portal with 0 out of the total 4 required valid legal documents on legal registration. Please note: Company scores on Open Timber Portal are updated daily. Visit the OTP website to review the company's current performance here: http://www.opentimberportal.org/operators.

175. Disclosure of the company’s management approach to tax and payments to governments?

176. Company has provided valid legal documents to Open Timber Portal on taxes, fees and royalties (at the time of SPOTT assessments)?

The company has provided the Open Timber Portal with 0 out of the total 2 required valid legal documents on taxes, fees, and royalties. Please note: Company scores on Open Timber Portal are updated daily. Visit the OTP website to review the company's current performance here: http://www.opentimberportal.org/operators.

177. Whistleblowing procedure?

178. Own grievance or complaints system open to all stakeholders?

The company makes this commitment through the FSC Chain of Custody Certification Standard (FSC-STD-40-004 V3-1). Partial points have been awarded as the requirements do not full meet the SPOTT scoring criteria.

179. Details of complaints and grievances disclosed?