SFI 2015-2019 Public Summary Report Gestion Forestière du Saint-Maurice inc. DESCRIPTION OF COMPANY Gestion Forestière du Saint-Maurice inc. owns an area of more than 389,000 ha. This area consists of two territories located north of the town of La Tuque, Quebec. The current territory of Gestion Forestière du Saint-Maurice inc. was formed over the years as the result of multiple acquisitions following the first documented transaction in 1911, when the St Maurice Valley Company received a block of land from the Province of Québec The company SFI representative is Robert-Antoine Allard, Ing.f. AUDIT During the period of February 27 to March 1 and March 15-16, 2017 underwent a initial audit to the Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI ) 2015-2019 Forest Management (FM) Standard which does not include the review of Appendi 1 Rules for Use of SFI Certified Sourcing Label. The registration cycle is over three years with surveillance audits conducted annually. The audit assessed active and/or completed harvest operations through interviews with the company staff and contractors. The audit also assessed the SFI documentation and records at the company s office including stakeholder and First Nations communication. The SFI program third-party audit was undertaken by SAI Global. SAI Global is an independent third party registrar that is accredited by the ANSI-ASQ National Accreditation Board (ANAB) Standard ensuring the integrity and credibility of the audit process. THE AUDIT TEAM The SAI Global audit team who performed the audit consisted of Hervé Bescond, M.Sc., audit team leader. The auditor is an EMS Lead Auditor, and Forest Certification lead auditor. REGISTRATION TYPE Certificate Type SFI 2015-2019 Forest Management Standard SFI 2015-2019 Fiber Sourcing Standard Single site N/A Doc ID: 6214 / Issue Date: November 2016 SAI Global Limited Copyright 2011 - ABN 67 050 611 642 Page 1 of 10 D: 6214 6 AIbal Limited Copyright 2011 - Page 1
MULTI-SITE / GROUP EVALUATION Not applicable. Doc ID: 6214 / Issue Date: November 2016 SAI Global Limited Copyright 2011 - ABN 67 050 611 642 Page 2 of 10 D: 6214 6 AIbal Limited Copyright 2011 - Page 2
SFI 2015-2019 Forest Management Standard FOREST LAND AND MANGEMENT PLAN INCLUDED IN THE AUDIT SCOPE Gestion Forestière du Saint-Maurice inc. owns an area of more than 389,000 ha. This area consists of two territories located north of the town of La Tuque, Quebec. The current territory of Gestion Forestière du Saint-Maurice inc. was formed over the years as the result of multiple acquisitions following the first documented transaction in 1911, when the St Maurice Valley Company received a block of land from the Province of Québec Management Planning on the territory is guided by the Plan general d aménagement 2012-2021- terrains privés-gestion Forestière du Saint-Maurice. The objectives are outlined in the plan as: 1) Comply with the laws and regulations that apply to its forestry activities and with the other requirements supported by the company, including the international agreements signed by Canada; 2) Respect legal and treaty rights and the customary use of Aboriginal communities in the vicinity of its forest properties; 3) Encourage employees and stakeholders to contribute to forest management planning processes; 4) Prepare forest management plans that ensure the development of forest resources, protection for forest ecosystems and the preservation of biodiversity; integrate the management of environmental aspects with the planning of forestry activities, and prevent pollution during the conduct of activities; 5) Identify and ensure protection for high conservation value forests; 6) Protect forest land against illicit harvesting and occupation and other illicit activities; 7) Provide employees and contractors with a safe working environment, fair working conditions, and conditions that respect employment and human rights legislation; 8) Provide skills upgrading opportunities to employees and contractors to ensure compliance with the requirements of environmental and forest management standards; 9) Support research and knowledge development in the areas of the environment and forest management; 10) Implement a review process to assess the progress made in the field of sustainable forest management and environmental management; Doc ID: 6214 / Issue Date: November 2016 SAI Global Limited Copyright 2011 - ABN 67 050 611 642 Page 3 of 10 D: 6214 6 AIbal Limited Copyright 2011 - Page 3
11) Submit activities for periodic outside audit and publish forest management performance figures. The GFSM territory belongs to two ecological subdomains: the western balsam fir/white birch subdomain, and the western spruce/moss subdomain. In the territory managed by Gestion Forestière du Saint-Maurice Inc., natural disturbances form an integral part of the dynamics of the forest ecosystem. They have a direct influence over biological forest diversity. Variations in a given area depend on the presence of various types of disturbance, combined with the effects of the climate and physical environment. Last, disturbances have a direct influence over stand succession and the type of forest management applied. Until recently, harvesting operations consisted mainly of clearcuts in the form of clear cut with protection of regeneration. The new long term forest management plan also includes treatments based on partial cutting to support the applicant s retention objectives. Several camp leases and camping sites are located in the area. Hunting, trapping, fishing and berry gathering activities are done. SCOPE OF CERTIFICATION Activités d'aménagement forestier - planification, récolte, transport et sylviculture sur deu blocs de forêt privée que possède la Société en Mauricie (bloc nordet bloc sud). La norme de gestion forestière SFI 2015-2019 respecte ou surpasse les eigences de la précédente norme SFI 2010-2014 (section 2). Par conséquent, toute fibre vendue en vertu de ce certificat est considérée 100% certifiée SFI et 100% certifiée PEFC. AUDIT PROCESS During this audit, the audit team evaluated the company against the objectives listed in Table 1. The evidence of compliance observed is listed in Table 2. Both tables are found in the section Evidence of conformity to the SFI 2015-2019 Forest management standard. A sample of field review sites were chosen from a list of active sites and sites where forest management activities occurred since the last audit. The site choice also considered activity type, and risk factors, related to the audit objectives selected for review, as well as the opportunity to verify implementation of corrective actions for previous non-conformities. SUBSTITUTE INDICATORS No substitute indictors were evaluated during this audit. COMPLAINTS No complaints have been received; therefore the complaint handling process could not be verified. Doc ID: 6214 / Issue Date: November 2016 SAI Global Limited Copyright 2011 - ABN 67 050 611 642 Page 4 of 10 D: 6214 6 AIbal Limited Copyright 2011 - Page 4
SITES INSPECTED AND ASSESSMENT TIME Audit Activity Duration in days Onsite 5,5 Sites Number inspected Roads 1 Harvesting Blocks 2 Silviculture Sites 0 Operations visited: Harvesting and wood hauling in Principal and Baptiste sectors. SUMMARY OF FINDINGS Areas of non-conformance NC# Type Performance Measure # Description 2017-01 Minor 11.1 There is no written agreements for the use of qualified logging professionals and/or certified logging professionals (where available) and/or wood producers that have completed training programs and are recognized as qualified logging professionals 2017-02 Minor 3.2 Work instructions for spill containment equipment have not been implemented in Baptist logging operations Corrective Action Plans Action plan has been accepted and implementation will be reviewed during the net surveillance audit Closed Opportunities for improvement Not applicable. Good practices Doc ID: 6214 / Issue Date: November 2016 SAI Global Limited Copyright 2011 - ABN 67 050 611 642 Page 5 of 10 D: 6214 6 AIbal Limited Copyright 2011 - Page 5
Not applicable. Status of previous audit non-compliances Not applicable since this is the Initial audit. CERTIFICATION DECISION SFI 2015-2019 FOREST MANAGEMENT STANDARD Initial / Re-registration Audit Based on the results of this initial audit it has been determined that the management system is effectively implemented and meets the requirements relative to the scope of registration and audit criteria. The action plans related to the non-conformances have been reviewed and considered acceptable. As applicable, any major non-conformance has been closed and implementation of action plan for minor non-conformance will be reviewed at the net surveillance audit. Therefore, a recommendation for registration is made to SAI Global. EVIDENCE OF CONFORMITY TO THE SFI 2015-2019 FOREST MANAGEMENT STANDARD Table 1 Objectives Audited Objective 1 Forest Management Planning X Objective 2 Forest Health and Productivity X Objective 3 Protection and Maintenance of Water Resources X Objective 4 Conservation of Biological Diversity X Objective 5 Management of Visual and Recreational Benefits X Objective 6 Protection of Special Sites X Objective 7 Efficient Use of Forest Resources X Objective 8 Recognize and Respect Indigenous Peoples Rights X Objective 9 Legal and Regulatory Compliance X Objective 10 Forestry Research, Science and Technology X Objective 11 Training and Education X Doc ID: 6214 / Issue Date: November 2016 SAI Global Limited Copyright 2011 - ABN 67 050 611 642 Page 6 of 10 D: 6214 6 AIbal Limited Copyright 2011 - Page 6
Objective 12 Community Involvement and Landowner Outreach X Objective 13 Public Land Management Responsibilities N/A Objective 14 Communications and Public Reporting X Objective 15 Management Review and Continual Improvement X Table 2 Evidence Observed Environmental management system (EMS) Manual Written policies Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for best management practices Cut block size calculations Employee observation forms (species at risk, invasive plants, other values) Pre-work discussions/meeting records EMS and SFI field handbook Monitoring records for non-timber values Training records (staff and contractors) Utilization records SFI/EMS training agenda Laws, legislation, regulations records Health and safety manual and/or employee policy manual Annual management review records Timber supply review Internal audit records Maps (pre-harvest, harvest, post-harvest, and silviculture) Corrective action logs Timber development standards Education/community involvement records Non-timber values impact assessments (riparian, visual, recreation, biodiversity, cultural heritage, other: ) GIS inventories (soils, forest, land classification, non-timber values) Long term management plans and sustainable harvest level calculation Cutting/harvesting permits Records of public inquiries and complaints Stakeholder communications records Agreements and communications with Indigenous communities Multi-licensee and/or government meeting minutes Operational plans (annual, cut block level) Logging agreements and/or contracts Wet/adverse weather plans or guidelines Wood producer training programs Reforestation plans Wood producer information package Pest management plan SFI Annual Report Doc ID: 6214 / Issue Date: November 2016 SAI Global Limited Copyright 2011 - ABN 67 050 611 642 Page 7 of 10 D: 6214 6 AIbal Limited Copyright 2011 - Page 7
Fire preparedness plan SFI and company websites Spill prevention and response plan SFI brochure Silviculture surveys and reports Standards for seed use Chemical use/spray records and applicator certification SFI Implementation committee (participation/support) Climate change information and/or meeting minutes Research and discussion papers Tree improvement reports Support for research and science Green-up records Eternal audit field inspections Free to grow records Eternal audit interviews (office and field) Planting program records Pre-harvest inspection records Harvest inspection records Post-harvest inspection records Road and bridge inspection records Government compliance records Doc ID: 6214 / Issue Date: November 2016 SAI Global Limited Copyright 2011 - ABN 67 050 611 642 Page 8 of 10 D: 6214 6 AIbal Limited Copyright 2011 - Page 8
DEFINITIONS Major Non-Conformances Pervasive or critical to the achievement of the SFI objectives All major non-conformances require an action plan to be implemented by the auditee within 90 days of an initial audit or registration cannot be achieved. Subsequently for surveillance audits, an action plan shall be implemented by the auditee within 60 days for the registration to be maintained. Minor Non-Conformances Isolated incidents that are non-critical but must be addressed before the net surveillance audit to maintain compliance to the SFI standard. Non resolved minor non-conformance will be escalated to a major non-conformance. Opportunity for Improvement Are not non-conformances but are comments on specific areas where improvements can be made. Good practices Areas that are deemed to be mentioned MULTI-SITE / GROUP SAMPLING APPROACH This multi-site / group organization maintains an internal audit program determined to be reliable, in this case SAI Global sampling approach is as follow where n = number of sites: i. (n) for initial certification audits ii. 0.6 (n) for surveillance audits iii. 0.8 (n) for re-registration audits The central office function is audited annually. OR This multi-site / group organization did not maintain its internal audit program. SAI Global applies the following sampling where n = number of sites: (n) The central office function is audited annually. Doc ID: 6214 / Issue Date: November 2016 SAI Global Limited Copyright 2011 - ABN 67 050 611 642 Page 9 of 10 D: 6214 6 AIbal Limited Copyright 2011 - Page 9
SAI Global forestry specialist group registers/certifies forest companies to ISO 14001, OHSAS 18001, CSA Z809 and CSA Z804 SFM, SFI Forest Management, SFI CoC, SFI Fiber Sourcing, SFI Certified Sourcing Label, PEFC CoC, FSC Forest Management, FSC CoC. The group, led by Sylvain Frappier, Technical Manager - Forestry, consists of a highly qualified team of professional foresters, technical and industry eperts. Contact certification.americas@saiglobal.com for more information. Company Contact: «P41» «P42» «P81» «P48» «P50», «P51» «P53» Tel : (819) 523-4531 This report may only be reproduced by the intended client, with the epress consent of SAI Global. Information in this issue is of a general nature with respect to audit findings and is not intended to be acted upon without appropriate professional advice. Doc ID: 6214 / Issue Date: November 2016 SAI Global Limited Copyright 2011 - ABN 67 050 611 642 Page 10 of 10 ID: 6214 Issue Date: May 2015 SAI Global Limited Copyright 2011 - ABN 67 050 611 Page 10