Sabah TLAS Audit Report

Transcription

1 Sabah TLAS Audit Report Sabah Legality Standard Principles 1 4 FDS-TLAS-006 Licensee Mekar Mewah Sdn. Bhd. Reference # G Contact Person Office Address Abdul Samad Siri (Manager) Nancy Edios (Clerk) Lot. 13 & 14, Block E, Adika Commercial Complex, Keningau, Sabah, Malaysia. Date of Report 7 April 2017 Date of close out - Telephone Fax nncy_fr@yahoo.com Approved By Dr. Kevin Grace Statements Audit Statement GFS 097 LVS Issuance Date 1 May 2017 Expiration Date 30 April 2018 Assessment Dates April 2017 Assessment Details Scope of Assessment Species Lead Assessor Assessor(s) FDS Staff TLAS Principles 1-4: Form 1 license, JP(STG) 010/2016 (F1) Mixed species from clear felling Dr. Bernd Hahn-Schilling Siti Radiah Mohamad Daim Balingi (FLEGT Officer), Richard Madanan (ADFO Tongod), Wellter Jaini (PPD Tongod), Asri Awang (PPD Tongod) 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 Summary Information Overview of Licensee Mekar Mewah Sdn Bhd possess a valid Form 1 license, JP(STG) 010/2016 (F1) allowing them to conduct clear felling operations within Lot PT (TOL). This licensed area is located at Damalang, Tongod, comprising a total area of 1,000 ha. The objective of this project is to provide a cleared land area for the local population and to provide employment for the local communities, as well as to strengthen the socio-economic development in this area. Mekar Mewah did not engage any contractor to carry out the harvesting activities within its licensed area. Land classification Area (ha) Total License Area 1, Production Area Steep Area Stream Buffer Zones Environmental context Forest type and history of management This area is stocked with Mixed Hill Dipterocarp Forest. However, the majority of the natural vegetation within the licensed area has been disturbed by repeated logging activities. Therefore, the vegetation conditions have changed into degraded secondary forest. There was no forest inventory carried out as the area is designed for clear felling. However, based on the previous forest inventory, the volume of the trees (above 20 cm DBH) is estimated to be less than 50 m 3 per hectare or 10 trees per hectare and mainly dominated by Dipterocarp species. Principal commercial species The project area mainly consists of secondary forest, with common tree species including bamboos, Dipterocarps, Non-Dipterocarps and pioneer species. Based on the approved Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) report, no endangered species of flora were observed to be present during the site visit. Most of the fauna observed within the licensed area are commonly found elsewhere. These include various species of amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals such as bats, rats, and squirrels. Existing EIA report An Environment Impact Assessment had been conducted for the licensed area and has been approved by Environment Protection Department (EPD). Social context Based on the approved EIA report, no community settlement was identified within the license area. 2

3 Scope of Assessment The scope of the evaluation is to verify compliance of Mekar Mewah Sdn. Bhd. with the conditions of the Form 1 License for an area of 1,000 ha located in the district of Tongod. 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 Mekar Mewah 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 3 Apr 2017 Mon 4 Apr 2017 Tue 5 Apr 2017 Wed 6 Apr 2017 Thu 7 Apr 2017 Fri Travelling to Keningau and overnight. Activity Opening meeting at Mekar Mewah Sdn. Bhd. Office (Keningau), effort to reach base camp (unable to access due to unsafe road conditions, such as lack of gravel, frequent land slides, high water level at river crossings, heavy rain), and to stumping area. Document review at Mekar Mewah Sdn. Bhd. office. Preparation of Draft Report. Document review at Mekar Mewah Sdn. Bhd. office, finalization of report, and closing meeting (afternoon). Return travelling to Sandakan and Kota Kinabalu Highlights of Assessment (Major Gaps = 0; Minor Gaps = 0; Observations = 3) Mekar Mewah Sdn. Bhd. has complied with the Sabah Legality Standard (FDS-TLAS-002) as no noncompliance was identified during the assessment on 3 5 April Principal 1: Mekar Mewah possess a valid Form 1 licensed that allows them to conduct the harvesting activities within the area. Principle 2: There was no evidence of non-compliances observed during the assessment. One log loader without FD Registration plate number was observed at the stumping area. No patrolling activities were carried out within the licensed area (Obs Checklist ). The identification of Sabah TLAS Compliant on the transportation permits/documents has yet to be implemented in this assessment as this new requirement has only started recently. According to FD 36/2016, the stamping of Sabah TLAS Compliant on all related FDS documents commences on 1 st January Currently, FDS is in the transition period of preparing stamps. The assessing team shall verify this during the next surveillance audit (Obs Checklist 2.3.7) The licensee lacks training measures on safety and health aspects for forest workers (Obs Checklist / 2.6.7). Principle 3: All production forms (TDPs, removal pass, & royalty receipt) and related documents are properly maintained. 3

4 Highlights of Assessment Principle 4: There are no villages or human settlements within the project area. Results: (Compliance = 10; Non-Compliance = 0) No gap was raised against indicators & criteria during the April 2017 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 - NA Three observations were identified during the April 2017 assessment. Obs Checklist Description One log loader without FD Registration plate number was observed at the stumping area. No record of patrolling activities was carried out. However, records of vehicle movement are recorded at the gatehouse (maintained by Tajuk Maju) The identification of Sabah TLAS Compliant on the transportation permits/documents has yet to be implemented in this assessment as this new requirement has only started recently. According to FD 36/2016, the stamping of Sabah TLAS Compliant on all related FDS documents commences on 1 st January Currently, FDS is in the transition period of preparing stamps. The assessing team shall verify this during the next surveillance audit / The licensee lacks training measures on safety and health for forest workers. Recommendations Mekar Mewah 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. The following recommendations are given regarding to the Gaps/Observations raised during this audit: Observation Checklist / : Ensure that FD Registration Plate Numbers are displayed on all machineries used for extraction handling and transportation of logs, as well as for road construction and maintenance. Patrolling activities should be implemented to control any possible encroachment. Observation Checklist 2.3.7: Ensure that all transportation permits/documents to be stamped with Sabah TLAS Compliant once the requirement fully enforced and stamps are available. Observation Checklist / 2.6.7: To provide adequate basic training on safety and 4

5 health to the forest workers (e.g. first aid training, fire drills). The next surveillance audit is scheduled in April End of Summary Report 5