{"id":11314,"date":"2014-08-29T09:21:46","date_gmt":"2014-08-29T09:21:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/april.hellopomelo.space\/2014\/08\/29\/kpmg-appointed-to-assess-implementation-of-aprils-sustainability-policy\/"},"modified":"2025-02-20T07:18:49","modified_gmt":"2025-02-20T07:18:49","slug":"kpmg-appointed-to-assess-implementation-of-aprils-sustainability-policy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/april.hellopomelo.space\/id\/articles\/kpmg-appointed-to-assess-implementation-of-aprils-sustainability-policy\/","title":{"rendered":"KPMG appointed to assess implementation of APRIL\u2019s sustainability policy"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Stakeholder Advisory Committee (SAC) has appointed KPMG Performance Registrar Inc. (KPMG PRI) to conduct specified auditing procedures to assess implementation of APRIL\u2019s Sustainable Forest Management Policy (SFMP).\u00a0 SAC is due to issue a report of recommendations in November based on KPMG PRI\u2019s findings.<\/p>\n

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\"SAC<\/a>

The Stakeholder Advisory Committee oversee APRIL’s Sustainable Forest Management Policy implementation<\/p><\/div>\n

SAC, created in January to oversee APRIL\u2019s policy implementation, made its appointment two-weeks ago in a three-day policy review with APRIL management.\u00a0 It has appointed KPMG PRI to conduct specified auditing procedures to assess implementation of APRIL\u2019s SFMP.\u00a0 KPMG PRI is a subsidiary of KPMG in Canada, which is a part of the KPMG International network of professional firms that provides audit, tax and advisory services globally.\u00a0 KPMG in Canada has provided forestry assurance services to the public and private sector across multiple jurisdictions for almost 20 years and currently maintains accredited subsidiaries that provide the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certification and the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC).<\/p>\n

SAC also called on APRIL to develop a long-term plan for forest conservation.\u00a0 The forests in the lowlands of Sumatra are one of the world\u2019s most threatened ecosystems and SAC welcomed APRIL\u2019s commitment to take the lead in ensuring the conservation of significant areas both within its existing concessions and by taking out restoration concession leases on some old logging concessions.\u00a0 The company currently protects 250,000 hectares of High Conservation Value Forest.\u00a0 But SAC members noted that conservation zones are spread throughout numerous forest concessions.\u00a0 It said future conservation plans should address the size, shape and geographic proximity of\u00a0protected areas.\u00a0 It\u2019s believed that larger, contiguous areas are best suited to sustaining biodiversity.<\/p>\n

\u201cAPRIL has a big opportunity to protect large landscape areas by addressing global conservation priorities,\u201d said SAC Chairman Joe Lawson.\u00a0 \u201cBut processes need to be strengthened in line with a long-term plan for forest conservation.\u201d<\/p>\n

APRIL manages forest plantations that provide wood for its pulp and paper mill in Indonesia.\u00a0 Comprising of forest and social development experts, SAC noted that APRIL relies on a High Conservation Value (HCV) process to identify areas within forest concessions to be protected.\u00a0 SAC acknowledged the company\u2019s successful implementation of \u201cring concept\u201d in which plantations are designed around conservation zones to buffer protected forest against encroachment and fire.<\/p>\n

SAC also noted concerns expressed by WWF Indonesia and other local NGOs over the compliance of SFMP implementation, in particular the encroachment of HCV areas in Sumatra.\u00a0 SAC discussed the issues and urged APRIL Management to apply more rigorous spatial monitoring and ground-truthing, including in Sumatra\u2019s Kampar Peninsula and Pulau Padang.<\/p>\n

SAC asked APRIL for process improvements to achieve biodiversity gains in Sumatra\u2019s Riau Province where APRIL operates.\u00a0 Among the recommendations:<\/p>\n