Environmental Impact Statement
Veneer Source
Enviroven 1 - These Reconstructed veneers certified by the SGS and FSC are made from Plantation Poplar and are grown mainly in the Pandania Plain in Northern Italy. The life cycle of the tree is 10-12 years, it is then cropped and replaced by new seedlings. This is then transported to the Alpi Mill in Modigliani Italy.
Enviroven 2 - These Reconstructed veneers are made from Obeche (Ayous) veneers. These veneers are not purchased on the open market but sourced from our supplier/manufacturer Alpi Pty Ltd which conducts a strict forest management program. The Alpi Group, in partnership with TFT (Tropical Forest Trust), has set in motion a continuous improvement project – following internationally recognised criteria – for the achievement of specific levels of excellence in forest management in Cameroon. This continuous improvement project adheres with FSC guidelines.
The Cameroon forest concessions are managed under a stringent and thorough forestry management plan. This plan is in accordance with Cameroon forestry regulation, Law Number 94/01 – decree 95/531. This regulation is designed to achieve maximum sustainability and the lowest possible environmental impact. The volume of regrowth is always higher than the volume of harvested wood in the same area.
Special care has been devoted to these following issues;
Selective Felling - Only a few trees previously selected are harvested. On an average less than 1 tree per hectare is harvested.
Yield Maximization - Every care is taken to insure minimum wastage and most added value to every tree which is harvested. Only after felling is it possible to have a final assessment on the quality of the log. The top quality logs are sent to the Douala mill for the production of peeled veneer and plywood. Production wastes are used to generate thermic energy to
operate the mill. This mill exports 80% of the production. Lower quality logs are processed locally in the Grumcam sawmill. Almost all of this planking is exported.Protection of Surrounding Forest, Undergrowth and Understorey - In order not to damage surrounding trees directional felling is practiced. The hauling of logs using airinflated
tired vehicles minimizes damage to undergrowth and understorey.Soil and Water Protection - To avoid erosion the log hauling paths are proper in terms of dimension, compactness and slope. To avoid stagnation and/or water pollution, bridges or culverts are built for any stream.
Pre-Harvesting Inventory - Is made to know exactly the forest stock and to be able after the felling to assess the balance. In this phase the trees which will be harvested are identified.
After Felling Assessment - It allows verification of good forest management and assessment of the forest’s future resources.
Protection & benefits of the local population - It has been verified that the forest wildlife disturbed by the noise tend to leave the working area and then come back once the operations are over. In these remote areas workers and their families are supplied with housing, health care and steady income which brings additional job opportunities for others living in the local villages.
