Social and environmental sustainability

In 2017, Precious Woods Amazon passed the full FSC recertification audit – which is conducted every five years – with an excellent result, credibly documenting that we set standards in regard to the sustainable use of our forest areas. PW Amazon was additionally certified under the virtually equivalent standards of the PEFC, with the same excellent result. PW Amazon is thus the first forestry operation in Brazil with a double certification. We are currently working on several scientific projects to examine our activity over the medium and long term and to obtain information to optimize and document our forestry operations. We are also in close and intensive contact with the regional communities, allowing us to undertake useful joint projects. The focus is on forestry training, security, but also support for local small businesses.

We are able to report on the following activities in the reporting year:

In order to raise awareness of our sustainable forest management, we inaugurated an educational forest trail. The trail is located in an area that was cultivated more than 20 years ago. This impressively documents how the natural regeneration of the rainforest takes place under sustainable use.
Together with the military police of Itacoatiara, investigations of poaching and illegal woodcutting were conducted in the region. Monthly patrols to secure our forest areas were also intensified, and activities were expanded – for example by installing warning signs, distributing information brochures, and initiating a series of lectures.
In cooperation with EMBRAPA (Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation), we started a project on the measuring of tree growth after harvesting and the productivity capacity of the tree population. This project is being continued, providing valuable analysis data over time for scientific purposes.
A research project is currently underway for monitoring the carbon dynamic in managed forests in the Amazon. The goal of this project is to define the methodology for measuring carbon sequestration in managed forests in the Amazon in order to create the preconditions for offsets of emission rights.
As a contribution to social engagement, PW Amazon created a playground and meeting place for all age groups in Itacoatiara, which is highly appreciated by the city government and the population.
We continue to strive to promote the agricultural production from the communities, such as cassava flour, fruit pulp, tucumã, rambutã and vegetables. This enriches the diet of the local population, and we ourselves are an important purchaser of the products. We also continue to support the extraction of non-timber forest products (oils, resins, seeds and other natural essences). These are traditionally processed by the communities and contribute to their income.
In addition, we continue to be active in offering courses for vocational development and improvement of skills for the manufacture of handicrafts. This programme is done in partnership with CETAM (Center for Technological Education of Amazonas) and SENAI (National Industrial Learning Service). The goal of these courses is to provide the local population with the opportunity to improve their income with the manufacture and sale of handmade products.