TECTONA PRODUCTION, INC. HIGH CONSERVATION VALUES PLAN

This report details the Conservation Plan for High Conservation Values (HCV) implemented by Tectona Production, Inc., a Danish capital and reforestation company dedicated to teak (Tectona grandis) commercial plantations in Darien province, Panama.

This protocol has been developed in compliance with the established requirements of the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) for responsible forest management certification. Taking as a reference the documents: FSC “Guide on High Conservation Values for Forest Managers” (FSC-GUI-30-009 V1-0 ES), “Generic guide for the identification of High Conservation Values” and “Detection of High Conservation Values (HCV)”, both from HCV Resource Network.

This plan’s main objective is to establish clear guidelines and concrete actions for identification, management, and effective monitoring of the High Conservation Values (HCV) in the influence areas of Tectona’s teak reforestation projects.

This report details the specific procedures developed by Tectona Production, Inc. for identifying and evaluating the High Conservation Values, as well as the strategies and the designed management practices for its protection and conservation during every phase of the project. Also, the continuous monitoring system that guarantees the effectiveness of the implemented measures and the adaptation to possible changes in the environment is described

Objectives

General Objective

Promoting sustainable use of natural resources present in the forest and commercial Tectona grandis forest plantations, of Tectona Production, Inc., guaranteeing its good management and conservation in the long term, and ensuring the optimization of the environmental services that this ecosystem provides to society.

Specific Objectives

  • Implement forest management techniques that promote the responsible use of timber resources and also promote biological diversity in forest projects, ensuring natural or assisted regeneration and the connection of habitats through ecological corridors.
  • Identifying, monitoring, protecting, and maintaining the key habitats of native flora and fauna species, especially those in danger, through conservation programs and maintenance of protected zones.
  • Develop educative programs and training aimed at the local community and forest workers about the importance of sustainable management of forest resources, encouraging responsible and respectful practices with de environment.

High Conservation Values

High Conservation Values (HCV) refers to a concept that represents the biological, social, or cultural characteristics of important significance that need to be preserved and managed in a sustainable way to maintain the integrity and function of ecosystems1. And it is composed by the six values:

  • HCV 1 – Species diversity
  • HCV 2 Landscape-level ecosystems and mosaics
  • HCV 3 – Ecosystems and habitats
  • HCV 4 – Critic services of the ecosystem
  • HCV 5 – Community needs

  • HCV 6 – Cultural values

The principal aspects of the methodology of the High Conservation Values (HCV) are clearly defined in the Criteria of Principle 9 and they consist of:

  • The application of precautionary principle:
  • Consultation with experts;
  • Participation of the interested parts;
  • Considerations about scale, intensity and risk (SIR).
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