Sabah TLAS Audit Report

Transcription

1 Sabah TLAS Audit Report Sabah Legality Standard Principles 1 4 Licensee Zillion Fortune Sdn. Bhd. ( D) Reference # G Contact Person Office Address Awang Zaidun Awang Taip Block 39, Lot No.1, Ground Floor, Indah Commercial Complex, Mile 4, North Road, Sandakan. Date of Report Date of close out 16 March Telephone Fax awangzd@yahoo.com Approved By Dr. Kevin T. Grace Statements Audit Statement GFS 095 LVS Issuance Date 01 April 2018 Expiration Date 31 March 2019 Assessment Details Assessment Dates March 2018 Scope of Assessment TLAS Principle 1 4: Sapulut Forest Reserve, FMU 25 (Mosaic Restoration & NFM) Species Drybalanops spp. (Kapur), Dipterocarp spp. (Keruing), Shorea inappendiculata (Selangan batu), Koompassia malaccensis (Impas), Parashorea spp. (White seraya), Shorea spp. (Red seraya, Yellow seraya, Melapi), Heritiera simplicifolia (Kembang), Scaphium spp. (Kembang semangkuk), (Nyatoh), Shorea pauciflora (Oba suluk), Neolamarckia cadamba (Laran), Duabanga moluccana (Magas), Octomeles sumatrana (Binuang), Alstonia spp. (Pulai), Nauclea spp. / Neonauclea spp. (Bangkal), Annonaceae spp. (Karai), Eugenia spp. (Obah), Sindora beccariana (Sepetir), Lauraceace (Medang), Planchonia valida (Putat), Lophopetalum spp. (Perupok), Terminalia subspathulata (Talisai), Lithocarpus & Quercus (Mempening), Myristicaceae (Darah-darah), Dillenia spp. (Simpor), Cotylelobium spp. (Resak batu), Cratoxylum arborescens (Serungan), Pentace spp. (Takalis), Koordersiodendron pinnatum (Ranggu), Hopea sangal (Gagil), Tristaniopsis merguensis (Pelawan-pelawan), Gluta/ Semecarpus/ Melanochyla & Swintonia (Rengas), Annonaceae (Pisang-pisang), Azadirachta excels (Bawang-bawang), Endospermum diadenum (Sendok Sendok), Assam, Perapat Hutan. Lead Assessor Priera Bagang Assessor(s) Siti Radiah Mohammad FDS Staff Roslan Junaidi (KU FLEGT), Mohd Arapa Lamuda (DFO Serudong), Jory Julhani (ADFO Serudong), RH Julius Adam (KPPM Naundong), RHK Sidin Barau (PPD Kalabakan) OBJECTIVES: The objective of this checklist is to verify compliance to the Criteria listed in the Sabah Legality Standard as defined by Principles 1-4 for Sabah dated 01 st January 2015 (FDS-TLAS-002). Compliance is defined when all applicable criteria are observed to be compliant. A Minor Gap to any indicator does not constitute non-compliance to a criterion. A Major Gap to any applicable indicator does reflect non-compliance to a criterion. Compliance for a criterion where multiple minor gaps are identified in indicators under the criterion may reflect non-compliance to the criterion. All issues identified under this standard shall be considered appropriate to the scale and degree of forestry operations undertaken by the parties under the agreement. 1

2 Overview of Licensee: Summary Information Zillion Fortune Sdn. Bhd. (Zillion Fortune) is registered in Kuala Lumpur (Reg. No D), with an office in Tawau. On 26 th November 2014, Zillion Fortune Sdn. Bhd. agreed with the government of Sabah to undertake forest management in part of Sapulut Forest Reserve within FMU 25 for 100 years, running from 26 th November 2014 to 31 st December 2114 (SFMLA 04/2014). Under the agreement, Zillion Fortune is given right to develop and manage up to 10,000 ha of forest reserve land (licensed area) for harvesting, rehabilitation and sustainable timber production from forest plantation and natural forests. Zillion Fortune is a registered logging contractor with Forestry Department of Sabah with registration # KON(TSR)014/2015(KM), and engaged Rakan Rimba Sdn. Bhd. for CHP preparation bearing registration # FD/CON/CHP (06)2017. The previous assessment was conducted in Mar 2017 that resulted in 3 observations (Report #: G ). Land use classification: Land classification Production Area (ha) FMP Area (ha) Non-Production Area (ha) Total Concession Area 10,833 Natural Forest Management 1,692 Roads and clearings 76 Area Streams, ponds, including riparian 708 Mosaic Restoration & Enrichment planting 9,141 reserve Conservation area & steep area Base camp & other facilities Natural Forest under protection Total 1,689 Nett Production Area 9,144 Environmental Context: The project site is located within FMU Sapulut Forest Reserve that gazetted as Class II (Commercial) FR and reserved for the supply of timber and other produce to meet the general demands of the trade. The natural vegetation of the FMU can be classified into four types: i) Lowland Mixed Dipterocarp Forest (647 ha); ii) Upland Mixed Dipterocarp Forest (1,314 ha); iii) Upland Mixed Dipterocarp Forest and Kerangas Forest (6,867); and iv) Lower Montane Kerangas Forest (2,005 ha). The FMU today supports regenerating logged forests. In the lower lying areas in the north, poor logging practices in the past have reduced the vegetation to a secondary forest of relatively small stature, dominated by pioneer species such as Macaranga spp. and poor quality commercial timber trees. Steeper areas above 20 in general support better quality forest stands. Tree species of Agathis spp., a highly valued tropical conifer is found on the upper slopes and ridges of this forest type. At the higher elevations above 1,000 m, particularly Compartments 16 and 17, lower montane heath forest is found. Such forests are of lower stature, with average canopy heights usually not more than 35 m. Vine loads, particularly climbing bamboo, are high, and pose a serious impediment to forest regeneration. It is estimated that 55%(5,950 ha) of the project site is classified as Stratum 4 and 27% (2,850 ha) of the project site is classified as Stratum 2 to Stratum. The remaining area comprises of about 18% (2,000 ha) small crown forest. Stratum 2 to 3 mixed forest comprises of moderate 2

3 stocked stands (5-9 trees above 60 cm DBH per ha) and Stratum 4 is comprised of very poor logged-over forest (0-4 trees above 60 cm DBH per ha). In its current state, the project site is generally poor habitat for wildlife. This can be largely attributed to the fact that poor logging practices have resulted in a residual forest characterized by a very broken canopy, large gaps and open conditions. Forest structure has yet to recover from the last logging. Based on records from FDS, the project site was logged previously between 1987 and Under such conditions, many arboreal animals are now scarce. Wildlife habitat can be expected to improve as the forest recovers over time. Ancrenaz carried out a general wildlife assessment over the area in Overall, the density of iconic species such as orang utan and gibbon was low. Elephants and wild cattle were formerly present in the general area but no population estimates were given. Based on slope analysis, about 230 ha of the project site considered inoperable due to the terrain steepness which is above 25. The project site has three main rivers namely Sungai Tibou, Sungai Palangan and Sungai Angisan. Sungai Tibou is the tributary of Sungai Palangan. The major river of Sungai Palangan flows into the Sungai Sapulut, whereas Sungai Angisan flows southward into Kalimantan. The estimated total length of perennial streams greater than 5 m width within the area is about 109 km. There is no sensitive or protected area located in the surrounding 10 km of the project site. The nearest protection area is the MBCA, which is located approximately 20 km northeast from the project site. MBCA comprised of 58,840 ha of primary lowland dipterocarp forest and gazetted as Class I (Protection Forest Reserve) in 1997 for its importance in the maintenance of forest essential on climatic or physical ground and research purposes. Social Context: According to the EIA report, there is no village or human settlement located within and adjacent to the project site, or within 10 km of the project site boundary. Therefore, the dependence of local communities on the project site for livelihood does not arise. There is also no evidence that those communities presently living close to Sapulut and Pensiangan have any cultural links or direct dependence on the licensed area for their livelihood. Scope of Assessment The scope of the evaluation is to verify compliance of Zillion Fortune Sdn. Bhd. with the Sabah Forest Management License Agreement (SFMLA 24/2014) for FMU 25. The assessment is in accordance on the terms of the agreement for the Sabah Legality Standard Principles 1-4 dated 01 st January 2015 (FDS-TLAS-002). Site evaluation to verify and report the level of compliance by Zillion Fortune Sdn. Bhd. and contractors to the standard in respect to each of the criteria within this report. Compliance is defined when the auditee demonstrates that the indicators consist of none or only minor gaps against any applicable criteria of the standard. Non-compliance to the Sabah Legality Standard occurs when the auditee does not demonstrate adequate compliance to a criterion. Itinerary of Assessment Date 12 March 2018 Monday 13 March 2018 Tuesday 14 March 2018 Wednesday Activity Travel to Tawau and Luasong from Sandakan. Opening meeting at FDS Tawau District office. Field visit to harvesting operation at C14, stream buffer zones, nursery and base camp. Field visit to Lalangut Log Pond (Pangkalan Lalangut). 3

4 Itinerary of Assessment 15 March 2018 Thursday 16 March 2018 Friday Document review at FDS Tawau District office. Closing meeting at Tawau RBJ office. Return travel to Sandakan. Highlights of Assessment (Major Gaps = 0; Minor Gaps = 0; Observations = 1) Zillion Fortune Sdn. Bhd. has complied with the Sabah Legality Standard (FDS-TLAS-002) as no noncompliance was identified during the assessment on March Summary of status of operations by Principle: Principle 1. Zillion Fortune demonstrated compliance with the license requirements, management planning, and submission of documents or reports such as the EIA monitoring report to the relevant authorities. The company possesses a draft 2018 Annual Work Plan that is pending for approval from the Chief Conservator of Forests. Principle 2. Observation Checklist 2.2.3: Two out of five machineries were found without FD registration plate number. Principle 3. The company has paid the licensing fees and other charges to the Serudong and Kalabakan District Forestry office. Principle 4. No village or human settlement associated to the licensed area. Not applicable Results: (Compliance = 15; Non-Compliance = 0) Gaps raised against indicators & criteria during the March 2018 assessment. GAP Type Checklist Description Status of previous outstanding Gaps. GAP Type Checklist Status Description of Close Out Highlights of Close Out Visit (if applicable) Dates - Not applicable 4

5 Observations raised during the March 2018 assessment. OBS # Checklist Description Two out of five machineries were found without FD registration plate number. Recommendations Zillion Fortune Sdn. Bhd. has demonstrated compliance with the Sabah Legality Standard (FDS-TLAS- 002) for its designated area and is recommended to receive a GFS Audit Statement and STCC from FDS. Observation identified in this assessment shall be addressed before the next surveillance visit. Action required to close the observation include: Observation Checklist 2.2.3: The company shall display the FD registration plate number on their heavy machinery. The next surveillance audit will be scheduled in March End of Summary Report 5