Progress in social and environmental sustainability

At both sites – Bambidie and Owendo – FSC and PAFC recertification audits were carried out for both forestry management and chain of custody (CoC). These take place every year and once again concluded very successfully. The continuous high level of our work was once again confirmed by independent third parties. We continue to be the only companies with dual certification.

We are also working on the following projects:

• The wide range of activities in “Maison de la Culture” opened last year in Bambidie were financially supported by CEB and PWH.
• Numerous training sessions took place for our logging teams. The goal is to improve knowledge and skills in the area of reduced impact logging and to secure the processes.
• First aid classes were held in cooperation with the Red Cross, as well as advanced training of the company fire brigade in cooperation with governmental organizations.
• A project against poaching was supported and accompanied in cooperation with the ministry responsible for forestry, the Gabon National Park Agency, and NGOs.
• Cooperation with the Research Institute in Tropical Ecology (IRET) for research on and further development of non-timber products was continued.
• The Dynafor project was also continued with P3FAC. The goal of this project is to study the dynamics and enrichment of the forest and in order to plan future forest management and harvesting.
• The joint project with the WCS (Wildlife Conservation Society) was further refined, with the goal of developing a monitoring protocol for surveying and evaluating biodiversity in our concessions. It will include a survey of fauna in the future.