FSC CERTIFICATION ON THE CARDS : CMO ESTABLISHING IN ZIMBABWE

In May this year CMO conducted an exploratory visit to Zimbabwe to gauge the readiness of the industry to re-enter to FSC certification sphere. CMO spoke to a broad range of stakeholders, including forestry companies, tobacco growers, who required suitability produced wood supplies, NGO’s, and government organizations.

CMO shared with the industry its unique approach to the establishment of FSC Group schemes and how this model can be applied in the Zimbabwe context to ensure a systems approach on the one hand and a low-cost certification option on the other. The industry was very receptive to the approach and both Border Timbers and Wattle company agreed to a gap analysis to be conducted by CMO. This occurred in early August and the outcome was that both companies are keen to embark on re-certification after withdrawing their FSC certificates more than a decade ago. Both organizations stand to benefit from FSC certification.

The company is now setting up a CMO Group Scheme in Zimbabwe that will include an office with full-time staff available to support the Zimbabwean forest industry. CMO is also considering adding Forest planning to the menu of services that the company will offer, including conducting enumerations and managing planning and GIZ software on behalf of clients.

CMO has re-positioned itself to create and guarantee supply chain security all along the forestry value

chain. To obtain this goal the CMO model hinges on 3 pillars:

The establishment of Forest Stewardship Council® (FSC®) certified Group Schemes using its in-house developed PerForm software – enabling digital management and auditing of forest operators, with the emphasis on small growers to large companies who may be excluded from the certification process, because of complexity and cost.

Providing technical support services such as training and consulting to FSC certified Group Schemes and forestry companies and using this expertise to also beef up technical compliance of CMO Group Schemes.

The development of an online, worldwide trading portal for FSC certified forest products named IcePik.

All 3 the above pillars will come into play in the Zimbabwean forest industry and CMO sees a bright and long future partnering with the forestry companies and small growers in Zimbabwe.