Make a sector choice to see our experience:
FSC certification:
Country:
Netherlands |
Name:
Preparing Dutch company for FSC-COC |
Starting Date:
2011 |
Status:
Finish 2011 with no major CARs |
Done by:
Marco Bijl. |
2011-3 |
In partnership with the
"Bergen Werkt" we prepared the Dutch company
Kerssen for FSC COC certification. The project consisted of initial pre-assessment, training, FSC manual development and implementation advise. The company was certified in 2011 without ANY shortfall by SKH. Scoring thus 100%.
Country:
Sri Lanka |
Name:
National Group Certification part 2 |
Starting/End Date:
2008 |
Status:
Project development only |
Done by:
Marco Bijl, Asanka, Ronald |
2007-19 |
A follow up FSC project proposal about group certification, marketing, improve production quality of FSC products, and climate related issues. Some activities for establishing of a regional FSC and SLIMF FSC standard are also included. Project developed together with
IUCN, Sri Lanka. and
FSC International.
Click on
this link to read more.
Country:
Honduras |
Name:
FSC project Honduras |
Starting/End Date:
2008 |
Status:
Project development only |
Done by:
Marco Bijl & Sergio Herrera |
2007-8 |
A full FSC project proposal is written about group certification, marketing and improve production quality of FSC products. Some activities for adjusting the national FSC standard are also included. Project developed together with Coatlahl, Honduras.
Click on
this link to read more.
Country:
Papua Barat |
Name:
FSC project Papua Barat |
Starting Date:
2008 |
Status:
Fundraising |
Done by:
Marco Bijl and SDSP |
2007-10 |
A full FSC project proposal is written about group certification, marketing and improve production quality of FSC products. Some activities for adjusting the national FSC standard are also included. This project also has a heavy social component. Project developed together with SDSP the Netherlands.
Click on
this link to read more.
Country:
Colombia |
Name:
FSC project |
Starting/End Date:
2008 |
Status:
Project development only |
Done by:
Marco Bijl & Ronald Poppens |
2008-1 |
A full FSC project proposal is written about group certification, marketing and improve production quality of FSC products. Some activities for adjusting the national FSC standard are also included. Project developed together with
UTP, Colombia.
Click on
this link to read more.
Country:
Ecuador |
Name:
National Group Certification |
Starting Date:
2007 |
Status:
Fund raising. |
Done by:
Marco Bijl |
007 |
Certification of several groups of forest owners in Ecuador. Certification of 75.500 ha of forest. These are divided over three Groups of forest owners
with several hundreds of forest owners. This is a community certification project. All 3 groups are community associations. Besides this around 20
sawmills will be certified. The last stage of the project will take care of the marketing and promotion of products.
This is a national project drafted in close cooperation with Corpei, Altropico, FCAE, DED, GTZ, Jatún Sacha, SFA, SNV and the Dutch CBI. Project
will run for 3 years and is now in fundraising stage. Proposal is written by FSG. All foreign expertise will be brought in by FSG consultants, similar to other FSC projects.
Country:
Sri Lanka |
Name:
National Group Certification |
Starting Date:
2006 |
Status:
Almost finished |
Done by:
Marco Bijl & Rop Monster |
006 |
Certification of a FSC group scheme and development of the national FSC standard. In total around 70.000 ha of Forest will be certified divided over 30 forest owners,
including State Forest. Besides this around 6 sawmills and 5 contractors will be COC certified. Project will be financed by the Dutch government.
All expertise and assistance will be brought in by FSG, who was also writing the project proposal and found the donor. 2-3 year project.
Project implementation will be done with IUCN-Sri Lanka and EDB (the Export development Board of Sri Lanka).
Country:
Ghana |
Name:
Cluster certification |
Starting Date:
2005 |
Status:
Ongoing. |
Done by:
Marco Bijl & Rop Monster
& Gustav Adu |
005 |
Certification of six different forest concessionaires in Ghana. In total 50.550 of tropical forest in eight different concessions. Project paid by ICCO and foundation Doen, the Netherlands. Complete step by step and day to day assistance. Pre-scoping (full feasibility study at the start of the project), stakeholder meetings, training on all levels, implementation of CAR's, writing of FMP and pre-assessment. This is the first certification project in Ghana and therefore of major importance. Besides the usual FSC issues FMP's based on FSC criteria must be written. This is done in very close cooperation with the State Forest Service Department. Local yield formula's and other parameters are also re-checked and re-written if necessary. All six concessionaires have their own sawmill. COC procedures are therefore also implemented. Project is implemented in close cooperation with all major stakeholders in Ghana.
Country:
Romania |
Name:
Feasibility of tracing timber products. |
Starting Date:
2005 |
Status:
Finished |
Done by:
Andrew Leslie. |
084 |
World Bank/WWF Alliance funded project, which evaluated the feasibility of tracing timber products from
Romanian forests to the UK retail market.This to prepare for certification.
Country:
Chile |
Name:
Feasability study to apply the Woodmark certification. |
Starting Date:
2005 |
Status:
Finished |
Done by:
Andrew Leslie. |
085 |
Feasability study to apply the Woodmark certification standard to 3 different forest ownership types of native forest in the south of
Chile. Funded by the Darwin Initiative.
Country:
Guyana |
Name:
FSC/SFM introduction |
Starting Date:
2005 |
Status:
Finished |
Done by:
Rop Monster |
95 |
Feasibility study and introduction SFM for GTZ/STOAS Georgetown. The work was separated into 2 missions and visits to Iwokrama and Barama concessions. Main goals of the study was to explore SFM possibilities.
Country:
Czech Republic |
Name:
Group certification |
Starting Date:
2004 |
Status:
Finished in 2005 |
Done by:
Marco Bijl & Michal Zak |
004 |
Certification of Forest Group Czech Republic. 10.403 ha of mixed forests. Project paid by Foundation Doen, the Netherlands, Ministry of Environment
Czech Republic, Matra fund-Royal Dutch Embassy and by WWF Austria.
Complete step by step and day to day assistance. Pre-scoping, stakeholder meetings, training on all levels, implementation of CAR's and pre-assessment.
This was the first Group certification in Czech Republic and a major breakthrough for FSC in that country.
During the project group procedures & guidelines, training manuals, hand outs and presentations are made in local language.
Certification done by Soil Association without any major corrective actions.
The project included the certification of 2 seperate COC's.
Country:
Hungary |
Name:
Developed management systems. |
Starting Date:
2004 |
Status:
Finished |
Done by:
Andrew Leslie. |
083 |
Developed management system which enabled Erdert, the largest softwood sawmill in Hungary,
achieve FSC Chain of Custody. Issued later by Woodmark; Funded by Erdert (Hungary).
Country:
Slovakia |
Name:
Church Forest |
Starting Date:
2004 |
Status:
Finished in 2006 |
Done by:
Marco Bijl & Michal Zak |
003 |
Certification of Church Union Forest Group. 19.989 ha of mixed forests. Project paid by Foundation Doen, the Netherlands.
Complete step by step and day to day assistance. Pre-scoping, stakeholder meetings, training on all levels, implementation of CAR's and pre-assessment.
This was the second Group certification in Slovakia. This time the Church forest as a forest owner was tested against
FSC principles and criteria. During the project group procedures & guidelines, training manuals, hand outs and presentations are made in
Slovak language. Certification done by SGS without any major corrective actions.
The project included the certification of 2 seperate COC's.
Country:
Spain |
Name:
Advises for certification. |
Starting Date:
2003 |
Status:
Finished |
Done by:
Andrew Leslie. |
082 |
Contracted by the Spanish NGO EKOS and the Universidad de Bilbao to provide expert advise on achieving of FSC certifications for mall/medium size holdings.
Country:
Slovakia |
Name:
Gemer Group |
Starting Date:
2003 |
Status:
Finished in 2004 |
Done by:
Marco Bijl & Michal Zak |
002 |
Certification of Gemer Forest Group. 27.216 ha of mixed forests. Project paid by Foundation Doen, the Netherlands.
Complete step by step and day to day assistance. Pre-scoping, stakeholder meetings, training on all levels,
implementation of CAR's and pre-assessment.
This was the first Group certification in Slovakia. Four different owners did get certified in the Group;
two town forests, one Urbar (small village forest) and one private forests.
One of the targets in this project was to see if all different types of forest ownerships in Slovakia were certifiable.
During the project group procedures & guidelines, training manuals, hand outs and presentations are made in Slovak language.
Certification done by Smartwood without any major corrective actions.
The project included the certification of 2 seperate COC's.
Country:
Slovakia |
Name:
Presov certification |
Starting Date:
2001 |
Status:
Finished in 2002 |
Done by:
Marco Bijl, Michal Zak, Andrew Leslie |
001 |
Certification of Presov Forest District. 48.159 ha of mixed forest. Project paid by Foundation Doen, the Netherlands. Complete step by step and day to day assistance. Pre-scoping, stakeholder meetings, training on all levels, implementation of CAR's and pre-assessment.
During this process training manuals, hand outs and presentations are made in Slovak language. Certification done by Soil Association without any major corrective actions.
Several people are trained by us to become local auditors. One of them is now working for SGS Slovakia.
The project included the certification of 3 seperate COC's, one of which was Kronospan Slovakia.
Country:
Latvia |
Name:
State Forest certification |
Starting Date:
2001 |
Status:
Finished |
Done by:
Andrew Leslie. |
080 |
Team player in the training and systems development for the first Latvian
State Forest District to achieve FSC certification. Funded by the Latvian Government.100.000 hectares.
Country:
Russia |
Name:
FSC feasibility . |
Starting Date:
2001 |
Status:
Finished |
Done by:
Andrew Leslie. |
089 |
Audit of a potential supply source of birch timber products from Volodga (Western Russia) for a UK distributor (2001).
Country:
Netherlands |
Name:
FSC training. |
Starting Date:
2000 |
Status:
Finished |
Done by:
Andrew Leslie. |
086 |
Training of private and public sector forest growers on Group Forest Management system certification (Utrecht).
Funded by Doen Foundation and Dutch Forest Owners.
Country:
UK |
Name:
COC audit. |
Starting Date:
2000 |
Status:
Finished |
Done by:
Andrew Leslie. |
087 |
Lead Chain of Custody Auditor at 5 furniture manufacturing companies on behalf of a UK Private Client.
Country:
US-Hungary |
Name:
FSC feasibility . |
Starting Date:
2000 |
Status:
Finished |
Done by:
Andrew Leslie. |
088 |
Audit with SmartWood (USA) of Komi Republic forests and sawmills to evaluate the feasibility of direct sales to Homebase.
Country:
US |
Name:
WWF International; FSC Toolkit |
Starting Date:
1999 |
Status:
Finished |
Done by:
Andrew Leslie. |
081 |
Developed Tool Kit for Group Forest Management Certification for WWF International. This toolkit is later used by many other FSG group certification
projects.
Country:
Solomon Islands |
Name:
Ecohout |
Starting Date:
1994 |
Status:
Finished. |
Done by:
Rop Monster |
067 |
In cooperation with Ecohout and financed by WWF an approach for FSC timber export mechanism was developed.
Country:
Surinam |
Name:
Skal Suriname partnership |
Starting Date:
1992 |
Status:
Finished. |
Done by:
Rop Monster |
066 |
In cooperation with Skal and financed by DGIS a first step towards FSC certification was made and modalities established for standard development
Country:
Hungary |
Name:
Foundation Robinia |
Starting Date:
1992 |
Status:
Finished. |
Done by:
Rop Monster |
068 |
In cooperation with Robinia and financed by private investors a FSC certified production line was developed.
Country:
Costa Rica |
Name:
Buen Precio plantation |
Starting Date:
1990 |
Status:
Finished. |
Done by:
Rop Monster |
069 |
In cooperation with Green Fund and financed by private investors a FSC certified production line was developed with exports to the EU market.
ISO and MSC certification:
Country:
Slovakia |
Name:
Prepare wood companies for ISO |
Starting Date:
2006 |
Status:
Finished 2006. |
Done by:
Michal Zak |
073 |
Prepare wood companies for ISO 14000 & 1400. After preparation each company did become certified without any problem.
Country:
UK-Slovakia |
Name:
Iso implementation |
Starting Date:
1999 |
Status:
Finished |
Done by:
Andrew Leslie. |
089 |
Wrote and developed the systems for Scottish Woodlands Ltd ISO 9002 and ISO 14001 certification in 1999.
Defined and implemented the systems required for Scottish Woodlands Slovakia to achieve ISO 900, 14001.
Country:
Sri Lanka |
Name:
Marine Stewardship Council Sri Lanka. |
Starting Date:
2008 |
Status:
Document development |
Done by:
Marco Bijl & Asanka |
2008-8 |
The Sri Lankan government has asked us if we can draft a MSC proposal for Sri Lanka, and implement it afterwards. Project idea is discussed with several potential counterparts. Project development in cooperation with
IUCN Sri Lanka and several governmental department.
Click on
this link to read more.
FMP Writing:
Country:
Netherlands |
Name:
FMP recreation area Spaarnwoude |
Starting Date:
1996 |
Status:
Finished 1997. |
Done by:
Marco Bijl |
052 |
Writing a FMP for Recreational area Spaarnwoude, the Netherlands. FSG was updating and renewing the FMP of this recreational area. In total ha 3000 of forest and nature. The old FMP was not based on sustainable parameters and therefore a complete new forest management system was implemented to reform the whole forest within ten years to a sustainable operation. New species were introduced, as well as mixtures. This to create more "nature" in a previously "boring" forest. Work conducted in 1996.
Country:
Surinam |
Name:
FMP for village forest Kasaba Ondro |
Starting Date:
1999 |
Status:
Finished 1999. |
Done by:
Marco Bijl |
008 |
Writing a FMP for a village forest (HKV) in Surinam. In total 4160 ha became under sustainable management.
The FMP was written following FSC guidelines and principles.
The goal of this "STEPS" development project was to re-establish an abandoned village (Kasaba Ondro).
The village was abandoned in the civil war. By creating new employment around 10 families finally made it
back to the village and the village flourished again. Employment was found in sustainable harvesting of the rich
village forest and an Agroforestry project. FSG did develop the idea, wrote a project proposal and did all the technical assistance.
Developing the FMP was a part of that. There was no useable previous plan so everything was build up from the ground.
One important issue was also to train the local people/foresters during the whole process. They must be able to update the
FMP themselves in the future. Inventories were made, permanent sample plots set, diameter limits set, yield formula's developed and
harvesting calculations made. Long, middle and short-term goals and targets are also set after long stakeholder meetings.
See also the paragraphs training, Agroforestry and feasibility study & evaluation. Project paid by ICCO the Netherlands. The work was conducted in 1999.
Country:
Nicaragua |
Name:
FMP for Fuente Verde |
Starting Date:
2001 |
Status:
Finished 2001. |
Done by:
Marco Bijl &
Saskia van Vuuren |
009 |
Writing a FMP for a forest in Nicaragua. This in cooperation with the local organisation Fuente Verde.
Fuente Verde owns around 350 ha of very valuable forest. In their region it's one of the last remaining
pieces of forest. Ecological it is also a very special forest because its heavily influenced by a nearby Volcano.
To save this forest for the future a sustainable FMP based on FSC principles & criteria has been written from scratch.
There was no previous plan so everything was build up from the ground. One important issue was also to train the local people/foresters
during the whole process. They must be able to update the FMP themselves in the future. Inventories were made, permanent sample plots set,
diameter limits set, yield formula's developed and harvesting calculations made. Long, middle and short-term goals and targets are also set after
long stakeholder meetings. Project paid for by DOG/ICCO and IUCN the Netherlands. Work carried out in 2001.
Country:
Ghana |
Name:
FMP's for the KWC cluster |
Starting Date:
2006 |
Status:
Finished 2007 |
Done by:
Marco Bijl, Gustav Adu &
Rop Monster |
010 |
Writing 8 different FMP's in Ghana. In total 50.550 of tropical forest in eight different concessions will be FSC certified in 2007.
This is the first certification project in Ghana and therefore of major importance. Besides the usual FSC issues FMP's based on
FSC criteria must be written. This is done in very close cooperation with the State Forest Service Department. Local yield formula's
and other parameters are also re-checked and re-written if necessary. Project paid by ICCO and foundation Doen, the Netherlands.
See also the Ghana certification project.
Forest Inventory:
No seperate projects yet. However activities are often carried out under "FMP writing" and "FSC certification".
Gis & Mapping:
Country:
Uk & Slovakia |
Name:
Gis & Mapping |
Starting Date:
2003 |
Status:
Ongoing |
Done by:
Michal Zak & Andrew Leslie |
074 |
FSG has a long term working relation with many UK forest owners. As many as 11 private owners with around 75.000 ha are using our services on a
regular basis. Areal pictures are send to Slovakia for digitizing and mapping, the final digital files are send back to the UK. After a few years of
learning FSG is now working hard to promote this activity to the world market.
Bio mass projects:
Country:
Guatemala |
Name:
SFM Bio Mass project |
Starting Date:
2005 |
Status:
Finished |
Done by:
Rop Monster |
062 |
In cooperation with SFM and financed by private investors a FSC biomass investment proposal is developed.
Country:
Brasil |
Name:
Bekey Agencies |
Starting Date:
2006 |
Status:
Finished |
Done by:
Rop Monster |
063 |
In cooperation with SFM and Smart Consultancies and financed by private investors a pellet production units will be developed for energy conversion. Investment proposal is finished.
Country:
Colombia |
Name:
Colombia energy |
Starting/End Date:
2008 |
Status:
Project development only |
Done by:
Marco Bijl & Ronald Poppens & WWR |
2008-6 |
Colombia Energy Project. Making green energy from FSC certified Bamboo.
Main aim of the final project is to build an energy plant in Colombia that uses Bamboo for energy production. The Bamboo should be certified with FSC and the energy will then become "green energy". The "energy' can be in the form of 'pellets', to be burned in the EU energy plants. But other forms are possible as well. That depends on the results of this study. The market for 'green energy' is booming, and selling the product will be no problem (when the price is feasible).
Project developed in cooperation with
World Wide Recycling (WWR), the Netherlands and
UTP, Colombia.
Agroforestry:
Country:
Surinam |
Name:
Agroforestry in Surinam |
Starting Date:
2000 |
Status:
Finished 2002. |
Done by:
Marco Bijl |
011 |
Implementing a full Agroforestry project in Surinam. This in relation with the STEPS development project. The goal of this "STEPS" development project was
to re-establish an abandoned village (Kasaba Ondro). The village was abandoned in the civil war. By creating new employment around 10 families finally made
it back to the village and the village flourished again. Employment was found in sustainable harvesting of the rich village forest and an Agroforestry project.
The main objective of the project was to establishment an ecological pilot-farm that was to run entirely by the villagers and the STEPS organisation.
A commercial approach was chosen for; within 3 years the project must be self-supporting. Project paid by ICCO and IUCN the Netherlands.
The work was conducted between 2000-2002. FSG did all the technical assistance during these years. FSG also brought in new techniques and
ideas for the region. Slash and burn methods are now mostly abandoned and other farmers are following these new methods on their own farms.
The farm is still in operation and uses the new techniques introduced by FSG. In 2002 a follow up project-proposal (for enlargement of the project) was
written and accepted by the donor.
Country:
Nicaragua |
Name:
Agroforestry Fuente Verde |
Starting Date:
2005 |
Status:
Finished 2007 |
Done by:
Marco Bijl &
Saskia van Vuuren |
012 |
Implementing a full Agroforestry project in Nicaragua. This in cooperation with the local organisation Fuente Verde. The goal of this development project was
to teach the local people new techniques of Agroforestry and explain the importance of the forests to the communities. Fuente Verde bought a substantial
amount of ground to develop a pilot-farm. This farm should work as a closed ecological system. The project will produce their own fertilizers with cattle
and crop rotation with fertilisation crops. Furthermore a commercial approach was chosen for; within 3 years the project must be self-supporting. Project
paid by foundation Doen the Netherlands.
FSG did all the technical assistance during the implementation of the project. FSG also brought in new techniques and ideas for the region. Other farmers
are following these new methods on their own farms. The farm is still in operation and uses the new techniques introduced by FSG.
Country:
Nicaragua |
Name:
FSC & Agroforestry El Arbol |
Starting Date:
2007 |
Status:
Project development only |
Done by:
Marco Bijl &
Saskia van Vuuren |
2007-15 |
Implementing a full FSC & Agroforestry project in Nicaragua. This in cooperation with local organisations. The goal of this development project is to teach the local people new techniques of Agroforestry and explain the importance of the forests and FSC to the communities. FSC-Nica is also involved and work on the national FSC standard is included in the project. Project developed together with El Arbol the Netherlands and Nicaragua.
Click on
this link to read more.
Bamboo:
Country:
Ecuador |
Name:
Proyecto Piloto Bambú |
Starting Date:
May 2003 |
Status:
Completed in April 2006. |
Done by:
Ronald Poppens |
055 |
Within Proyecto Piloto Bambú, conducted by the International Network for Bamboo and Rattan (INBAR) and several partner organizations, one objective is to enlarge the area of bamboo - with a focus on Guadua angustifolia - that is considered a viable alternative to traditional agricultural crops such as coffee and banana that have been in decline due to price fall. INBAR and its partners assist farmers and communities in establishing bamboo nurseries and sustainable management of natural bamboo groves. Farmers are also assisted in commercialization of their produce of bamboo, so as to develop it into a sustainable source of income. In order to maximize added value of the produced bamboo, farmers have been incorporated into a scheme for production of bamboo splits that are sold to an organization that manufactures low-cost housing for the rural poor. Even more value is added by establishing processing units within communities, for treatment of bamboo culms prior to their application. The treatment processes applied are safe for human health and the environment. In order to show the versatility of bamboo as an excellent building material that enables attractive, safe and low-cost housing possibilities, INBAR built two model houses that have received a lot of attention from the local press and through visits by a wide range of people.
Tree plantations & reforestation:
Country:
Nigeria |
Name:
Mikes plantation
Cross River State |
Starting Date:
1989 |
Status:
Finished. |
Done by:
Rop Monster |
064 |
Private investment scheme for timber production for export in partnership with Belgium importers
Country:
Costa Rica |
Name:
JUNAFORCA |
Starting Date:
1990 |
Status:
Finished. |
Done by:
Rop Monster |
065 |
Mobilization of farmers woodlands towards FSC certification of group members. Connection with investors for plantation.
Investment and project proposal ready.
Country:
Afghanistan |
Name:
Reforestation & Nursery project Afghanistan |
Starting Date:
2008 |
Status:
Project development only |
Done by:
Marco Bijl & Profound |
2007-20 |
Forests and rural development in Afghanistan. Re-forestation and nursery in Southeast Afghanistan, where government, local communities and knowledge institutes work closely together for the sustainable management of the future forests. Project development in cooperation with
Pro Found, the Netherlands and
TLO, Afghanistan.
Click on
this link to read more.
Some of the Tree plantations projects can be
found under the "certification" chapter. In that case they are not mentioned above.
NFTP's:
Country:
Mexico |
Name:
raining Center/Experimental
Station for mushroom growing |
Starting Date:
May 1998 |
Status:
Completed 2001 |
Done by:
Ronald Poppens |
056 |
The project goal was to develop mushroom growing into a sustainable source of income for indigenous communities in the Mixteca region of southern Mexico. A training center for mushroom growing was established in cooperation with local non-governmental organization Cedicam. The focus was on Shii-take mushrooms, to be sold in Mexico City, and to be grown on locally available organic waste products. Cedicam extensionists were trained in the technical and organizational aspects of mushroom growing, so as to be able to run the experimental station, to pass on the activity to local communities and to organize the production scheme among growers. The project was financed by the National Committee for International Cooperation and Sustainable Development (NCDO) and two other Dutch NGO's.
Eco tourism and Pan Parks
Country:
Hungary |
Name:
Marketing PAN Parks |
Starting Date:
2009 |
Status:
Plan is with Pan Parks |
Done by:
Marco Bijl & Pan Parcs |
2008-5 |
Marketing
PAN Parks. Protect European wilderness while generating income in two ways
1. PAN Parks Tourism Model: Developed training programs for certified local business partners in PAN Parks and developed PAN Parks Tourist Packages for sustainable income generation for both PPF as the local regions.
2. Research & Education and Training development (R&T). Develop and sell research and training packages for sustainable income generation for PPF and the participating parks.
Proposal written together with Pan Parks, Hungary.
Click on
this link to read more.
Country:
Papua Barat |
Name:
Eco Tourism in Papua Barat |
Starting Date:
1998 |
Status:
Tourism ongoing |
Done by:
Marco Bijl |
031 |
Assisting & advising Eco Tourism activities in Papua Barat. FSG has been assisting the Dutch Foundation for Sustainable Development Papua Barat (SDSP) for several years in several projects. On behalf of SDSP, in 1998 FSG conducted a feasibility study for an eco-tourism project in Manokwari, Papua Barat. After this study we wrote the project proposal and worked out the project's organisation. A local organisation, the YAT, was raised to become the counterpart of SDSP. FSG also wrote a "travel guide Manokwari" together with SDSP and the YAT. Donors were found and FSG is now assisting this project on a day to day basis. It is now possible to visit Manokwari and follow an adventures holiday programme that is based on the area's natural wonders. FSG and SDSP initiated a little lodgement in Manokwari that is now managed by the YAT. All the profits stay with the local people. The project is self-supporting. The foundation SDSP has several projects and is supported by WWF, ICCO, Wilde Ganzen, Kinderpostzegels and Fair Trade and a large group of private donators.
Country:
Perú |
Name:
Aventuras Ecológicas |
Starting Date:
1996 |
Status:
Tourism ongoing |
Done by:
Ronald Poppens |
061 |
In 1997 Mr Ronald Poppens worked for four months in the Peruvian Amazon for eco-tourist company Aventuras Ecológicas,
within the Manú Biosphere Reserve. As a licensed tour guide he accompanied groups of international tourists during eight-day trips from
Cuzco to the reserve, while visiting cultural and natural sites on the way and within the reserve, providing information on flora and fauna,
ecology, culture and other aspects.
Evaluation & studies:
Country:
Netherlands |
Name:
Market research 18 different timber product sheets |
Starting Date:
2011 |
Status:
Finish end 2011 |
Done by:
Marco Bijl. |
2011-6 |
As consultants to
CBI we did market research.
FSG is developing so called product sheets; a 4-5 page market research report about 1 timber product like doors.
In this report everything from Market Access Requirement, prices, measurements, designs and market opportunities &
trends are explained. FSG developed 18 different product sheets.
Country:
Bolivia and Peru |
Name:
Market study dual certified timber Bolivia and Peru |
Starting Date:
2008 |
Status:
Finished 2009 |
Done by:
Marco Bijl |
2008-13 |
For SNV Bolivia and Peru (paid for by WWF Bolivia) FSG carried out a marketstudy.
The study aimed to find out if amongst importers there’s an interest in timber products carrying both the FSC and Fairtrade (Max Havelaar) certification. Fairtrade certification of timber products is a new idea, and the purpose of carrying out this study is to explore and identify market interest in this potential certification area. A substantial research was carried out and a report was written. Click on
this link to read more about the background and on
this link to read a summary of the report.
Country:
Sri Lanka |
Name:
Certification in Sri Lanka feasible? |
Starting Date:
2005 |
Status:
Finished 2005 |
Done by:
Marco Bijl & Rop Monster |
019 |
Carrying out a feasibility study to the possibilities of a FSC certification project in Sri Lanka.
In total 70.000 ha of forest divided amongst 30 owners could be certified if feasible. This is the first certification project in Sri Lanka and therefore of major importance.
A full feasibility study is made at the start of the project. Discussions with the concessionaires and all stakeholders are organised. Together with the study a full project proposal has been written and a potential donor has been found because of FSG. Project paid by CBI the Netherlands. See also the FSC certification chapter.
Country:
Honduras |
Name:
Certification in Honduras feasible? |
Starting Date:
2005 |
Status:
Finished 2005 |
Done by:
Marco Bijl |
020 |
Carrying out a feasibility study to the possibilities of a FSC certification project in Honduras.
In total 10.800 ha of Pine forest divided amongst several owners could be certified if feasible. This is the first Pine forest certification project in this country and therefore of major importance. A full feasibility study is made at the start of the project. Discussions with the concessionaires and all stakeholders are organised. Together with the study a full project proposal has been written. The project is now looking for donors. Project paid by CBI the Netherlands.
Country:
Ecuador |
Name:
Certification in Ecuador feasible? |
Starting Date:
2005 |
Status:
Finished 2005 |
Done by:
Marco Bijl |
018 |
Carrying out a feasibility study to the possibilities of a FSC certification project in Ecuador.
In total 75.500 ha of forest in 3 different community groups could be certified if feasible. This is the first large scale certification project in Ecuador and therefore of major importance.
A full feasibility study is made at the start of the project. Discussions with the concessionaires and all stakeholders are organised. Together with the study a full project proposal has been written. Project paid by CBI the Netherlands. See also the FSC certification chapter.
Country:
Ghana |
Name:
Survey of Sawn Timber Cost Structure in Ghana |
Starting Date:
2005 |
Status:
Finished 2005 |
Done by:
Gustav Adu. |
078 |
Technical Assistance was made available to the Ghana Timber Millers' Organization (GTMO),
comprising over 200 members to carry out a survey of Sawn Timber Cost Structure which
has been presented to Government. As a consequence of the findings of the study,
Government has hinted that in the 2005 budget, it would review downwards the numerous
taxes and levies (about 5 that apply specifically to timber and 8 others that affect other businesses) that
GTMO is of the belief are reducing profitability of the sawmilling industry in particular.
Country:
Ghana |
Name:
Certification in Ghana feasible? |
Starting Date:
2004 |
Status:
Finished 2004 |
Done by:
Marco Bijl, Gustav Adu &
Rop Monster |
017 |
Carrying out a feasibility study to the possibilities of a FSC certification project in Ghana.
In total 50.550 ha of tropical forest in eight different concessions could be certified if feasible. This is the first certification project in Ghana and therefore of major importance.
A full feasibility study is made at the start of the project. Discussions with the concessionaires and all stakeholders are organised. Together with the study a full project proposal has been written and two donors are found because of FSG. Project paid by CBI the Netherlands. See also the FSC certification chapter.
Country:
Nicaragua |
Name:
Agroforestry Fuente Verde feasible? |
Starting Date:
2004 |
Status:
Finished 2004 |
Done by:
Marco Bijl &
Saskia van Vuuren |
015 |
Carrying out a feasibility study to the possibilities of an Agroforestry development project in Nicaragua. This in cooperation with the local organisation Fuente Verde. The goal of this development project was to teach the local people new techniques of Agroforestry and explain the importance of the forests to the communities. Fuente Verde like to buy a substantial amount of ground to develop a pilot-farm. This farm should work as a closed ecological system. The project will produce their own fertilizers with cattle and crop rotation with fertilisation crops. Furthermore a commercial approach should be chosen for; within 3 years the project must be self-supporting. Project paid for by DOG/ICCO the Netherlands.
FSG did carry out the feasibility study including a detailed financial analysis and a market study. Based on this a project proposal was written in and a donor was found.
Country:
Nicaragua |
Name:
Evaluation Fuente Verde |
Starting Date:
2001 |
Status:
Finished 2001. |
Done by:
Marco Bijl &
Saskia van Vuuren |
023 |
Carrying out an evaluation mission in relation to Fuente Verde, Nicaragua. Goal of this mission was to take a close look at the organisation Fuente Verde, their employed people, projects and goals for the future. Due to the work of FSG better goals and targets were set and during a brainstorm session the choice was made to develop a self-supporting Agroforestry project. Project paid for by DOG/ICCO the Netherlands. Because of the results of the evaluation and brainstorm sessions new donors were found for other projects. Work carried out in 2001.
Country:
Surinam |
Name:
Evaluation STEPS project |
Starting Date:
1999 |
Status:
Finished 1999. |
Done by:
Marco Bijl |
022 |
Carrying out an evaluation mission in relation to STEPS, Surinam. Goal of this mission was to take a close look at the organisation, their employed people, projects and goals for the future and the financial situation. Due to the evaluation changes were made in the STEPS organisation. Project paid for by ICCO the Netherlands.
Country:
Surinam |
Name:
Agroforestry in Surinam feasible? |
Starting Date:
1998 |
Status:
Finished 1998. |
Done by:
Marco Bijl |
014 |
Carrying out a feasibility study to the possibilities of an Agroforestry development project in the abandoned village of Kasaba Ondro. This in relation with the STEPS development project. The goal of this "STEPS" development project was to re-establish an abandoned village (Kasaba Ondro). The village was abandoned in the civil war. By creating new employment around 10 families finally made it back to the village and the village flourished again. Employment was found in sustainable harvesting of the rich village forest and an Agroforestry project. The main objective of the project was to establishment an ecological pilot-farm that was to run entirely by the villagers and the STEPS organisation. A commercial approach was chosen for; within 3 years the project must be self-supporting. Project paid by ICCO and IUCN the Netherlands. In 1998 FSG did carry out the feasibility study including a detailed financial analysis. Based on this a project proposal was written in 1999 and a donor was found.
Country:
Mexico |
Name:
Musroom growing Mexico? |
Starting Date:
1998 |
Status:
Finished 1998 |
Done by:
Marco Bijl & Ronald Poppens |
016 |
Carrying out a feasibility study to the possibilities of a Mushroom growing project in Nicaragua. FSG assisted the Dutch Foundation Concordia with a pilot project in the Mexican state of Oaxaca regarding the cultivation and commercialisation of edible mushrooms. In 1998 FSG conducted a feasibility study and after that the project framework was formulated and a donor found. In order to improve the people's living conditions the community-based cultivation will generate revenues. The project has started on a small scale, but a foundation is established for the purpose of involving new families and even new villages after some time. The new organisation will sell the mushrooms on the local and export market. The project is started in 2000 and was going very well. Several employees did continue growing mushrooms to generate an income for their families when the project was finished. Project paid for by Foundation Leo Bijl, the Netherlands.
Country:
Papua Barat |
Name:
Eco Tourism in Papua Barat feasible? |
Starting Date:
1998 |
Status:
Finished 1998 |
Done by:
Marco Bijl |
021 |
Carrying out a feasibility & evaluation mission regarding Eco Tourism activities in Papua Barat. FSG has been assisting the Dutch Foundation for Sustainable Development Papua Barat (SDSP) for several years in several projects. On behalf of SDSP, in 1998 FSG conducted a feasibility study for an eco-tourism project in Manokwari, Papua Barat. After this study we wrote the project proposal and worked out the project's organisation. Donors were found and FSG is now assisting this project on a day to day basis. See also the Eco Tourism chapter. The foundation SDSP has several projects and is supported by WWF, ICCO, Wilde Ganzen, Kinderpostzegels and Fair Trade and a large group of private donators.
Country:
Surinam |
Name:
Forestry project in Surinam feasible? |
Starting Date:
1996 |
Status:
Finished 1996. |
Done by:
Marco Bijl |
013 |
Carrying out a feasibility study to the possibilities of a forestry development project in the abandoned village of Kasaba Ondro. The goal of this "STEPS" development project was to re-establish an abandoned village (Kasaba Ondro). The village was abandoned in the civil war. By creating new employment around 10 families finally made it back to the village and the village flourished again. Employment was found in sustainable harvesting of the rich village forest and an Agroforestry project. FSG did developed the idea, wrote a project proposal and did all the technical assistance. The first stage of this project was a feasibility study. In addition, a detailed financial analysis was completed. This was conducted by FSG in 1996. Project paid by ICCO the Netherlands. See also the paragraphs FMP writing, training and Agroforestry.
Investments in the green sector:
Country:
Romania |
Name:
Investment program green sector. |
Starting Date:
2001 |
Status:
Finished |
Done by:
Andrew Leslie. |
091 |
Investment Due Diligence commissioned by the European Bank for
Reconstruction and Development (EBRD). This included verification of an investment programme in Romania worth 50m
Euro and working capital of around 15m Euro. The Bank did invest in the project.
Country:
Latvia |
Name:
Forests investments. |
Starting Date:
2001 |
Status:
Finished |
Done by:
Andrew Leslie |
092 |
Investment study for a UK private client which purchased forests in Latvia. The purchase was concluded in 2001.
Country:
Slovakia-UK |
Name:
Forests investments. |
Starting Date:
2001 |
Status:
Finished |
Done by:
Andrew Leslie & Michal Zak. |
093 |
Investment studies for UK private clients to invest in Slovak forests. Investment were made.
Country:
Guyana |
Name: Investment analyses |
Starting Date:
2004 |
Status:
Finished |
Done by:
Rop Monster |
96 |
Investment analyses and due diligence with regards to potential buyer (FIAM, Amsterdam) for the Georgetown based "Willems" company. Study together with KPMG and G0-Invest.
Training:
Country:
Netherlands |
Name:
Groasis Academy and project ideas |
Starting Date:
2011 |
Status:
Finished |
Done by:
Marco Bijl. |
2011-5 |
On invitation of our partner
Groasis we gave a half day lecture about the
potential of Carbon projects together with the Waterboxx and the FSG
integral way of working (a new system where forest, carbon, agriculture and others are all combined in 1 project).
The lecture was part of the Groasis Academy, a one week training course to 16 Groasis representatives from 12 different countries.
Together with FSG all these representatives are now working hard to develop climate related projects.
Country:
Ghana |
Name:
FMP's for the KWC cluster |
Starting Date:
2006 |
Status:
Finished 2007 |
Done by:
Marco Bijl, Gustav Adu &
Rop Monster |
030 |
Train local foresters in Ghana in FSC and sustainable forestry issues. See also FSC certification projects. For the FSC certification project in Ghana around 50 people were fully trained in FSC issues. In Ghana we were running 2 levels of training; for decision makers and for operational managers. Both classroom and field courses/explanation were given and handouts, presentations etc were prepared. Projects paid by foundation Doen and ICCO the Netherlands.
Country:
Czech Republic |
Name:
Sustainable Forestry and FSC |
Starting Date:
2005 |
Status:
Finished in 2005 |
Done by:
Marco Bijl & Michal Zak |
029 |
Train local foresters in the Czech Republic in FSC issues. See also FSC certification project. For the FSC certification project around 10 people were fully trained in FSC issues. In Czech Republic we were running 3 levels of training; for decision makers, for operational managers and for field workers. Handouts, presentations etc were prepared in the local languages. Project paid by Foundation Doen, the Netherlands, Ministry of Environment Czech Republic, Matra fund, Royal Dutch Embassy and by WWF Austria.
Country:
Nicaragua |
Name:
Agroforestry training |
Starting Date:
2003 |
Status:
Finished 2003 |
Done by:
Marco Bijl &
Saskia van Vuuren |
026 |
Train local people in Agroforestry issues in Nicaragua. This in cooperation with the local organisation Fuente Verde. A group of around 40 people were trained in the latest techniques of Agroforestry. The goal of this development project was to teach the local people new techniques of Agroforestry and explain the importance of the forests to the communities. Fuente Verde bought a substantial amount of ground to develop a pilot-farm. This farm should work as a closed ecological system. The project will produce their own fertilizers with cattle and crop rotation with fertilisation crops. Furthermore a commercial approach was chosen for; within 3 years the project must be self-supporting. Project paid for by DOG/ICCO the Netherlands. Both classroom and field courses were given and hand-outs, presentations etc were prepared. Work carried out in 2003.
Country:
Ecuador |
Name:
Proyecto Piloto Bambú; by INBAR. |
Starting Date:
May 2003 |
Status:
April 2006 |
Done by:
Ronald Poppens |
060 |
In June and July of 2004 two workshops were organized by the International Network for Bamboo and Rattan in Ecuador. One resulted in a bamboo house for a poor urban family in the city of Guayaquil, the other workshop concerned the building of a small bamboo shop for a family in a rural area. Both buildings were intended to demonstrate the versatility of Guadúa bamboo for construction purposes. Given the interest shown by many people from a variety of social classes, both Guadúa applications have demonstrated that attractive, safe, economic and durable constructions can be made with this natural material, that is grown in many areas of rural Ecuador as well as in neighboring countries. On the basis of these workshops, a practical hands-on training manual for construction with Guadúa was compiled. Besides describing the construction process in logical steps, it also provides information on issues such as material selection, preservation, processing and harvesting.
Note: manual for construction with Guadua bamboo (Vivir con la Guadúa) - published in March 2005
Country:
China |
Name:
Training course on Chinese style bamboo furniture conducted by INBAR. |
Starting Date:
Oct 2003 |
Status:
Oct 2003 |
Done by:
Ronald Poppens |
059 |
The manual is a documentation of the workshop in Hainan, focusing on the manufacturing of Chinese-style bamboo furniture. It follows a "do-it-yourself" practical approach with self-explanatory photographs and concise text, including information on bamboo selection, storage, preservation and the manufacturing process.
Note: based on this training course, a training manual on Chinese style bamboo furniture was published in 2004 by INBAR and CIBART.
Country:
China |
Name:
Compiling manual for
propagation of tropical
bamboos for INBAR. |
Starting Date:
2003 |
Status:
Finished 2003 |
Done by:
Ronald Poppens |
058 |
With the International Network for Bamboo and Rattan (INBAR), several practical training sessions on bamboo propagation methods were conducted in southern China. During these sessions, a training manual was made, that describes the step-wise implementation of seven important bamboo propagation methods, in a practical hands-on approach with lots of illustrations. The manual also contains practical information on bamboo morphology, nurseries and culm-age determination in the field.
Note: Manual available for members on INBAR website.
Country:
Nicaragua |
Name:
Sustainable Forestry and FSC training |
Starting Date:
2001 |
Status:
Finished 2001 |
Done by:
Marco Bijl &
Saskia van Vuuren |
027 |
Train local people in Nicaragua in Sustainable forestry issues. This in cooperation with the local organisation Fuente Verde. In total 30 people were trained in all aspects of sustainable forestry and FSC. Fuente Verde owns around 350 ha of very valuable forest. In their region it's one of the last remaining pieces of forest. Ecological it is also a very special forest because its heavily influenced by a nearby Volcano. The main goal of this training was to create awareness and understanding about sustainable forestry. Both classroom and field courses were given and hand-outs, presentations etc were prepared. Project paid for by DOG/ICCO the Netherlands. Work carried out in 2001.
Country:
Surinam |
Name:
Agroforestry training |
Starting Date:
2000 |
Status:
Finished 2000. |
Done by:
Marco Bijl |
025 |
Train a group of people in Agroforestry issues in Surinam. A group of around 20 people was trained in the latest techniques of Agroforestry. This in relation with the STEPS development project. The goal of this "STEPS" development project was to re-establish an abandoned village (Kasaba Ondro). The village was abandoned in the civil war. By creating new employment around 10 families finally made it back to the village and the village flourished again. Employment was found in sustainable harvesting of the rich village forest and an Agroforestry project. The main objective of the project was to establishment an ecological pilot-farm that was to run entirely by the villagers and the STEPS organisation. A commercial approach was chosen for; within 3 years the project must be self-supporting. Project paid by ICCO and IUCN the Netherlands. The work was conducted in 2000. Both classroom and field courses were given and hand-outs, presentations etc were prepared.
Country:
Surinam |
Name:
Sustainable Forestry and FSC training |
Starting Date:
1999 |
Status:
Finished 1999. |
Done by:
Marco Bijl |
024 |
Train local people in Surinam in Sustainable forestry issues. This in relation with the STEPS development project. The goal of this "STEPS" development project was to re-establish an abandoned village (Kasaba Ondro). The village was abandoned in the civil war. By creating new employment around 10 families finally made it back to the village and the village flourished again. Employment was found in sustainable harvesting of the rich village forest and an Agroforestry project. In total 30 people were trained in all aspects of sustainable forestry and FSC. Both classroom and field courses were given and hand-outs, presentations etc were prepared. See also the paragraphs FMP writing, Agroforestry and feasibility study & evaluation. Project paid by ICCO the Netherlands. The work was conducted in 1999.
Country:
Slovakia |
Name:
Sustainable Forestry and FSC training |
Starting Date:
1999 |
Status:
Finished in 2006 |
Done by:
Marco Bijl & Michal Zak |
028 |
Train local foresters in Slovakia in FSC issues. See also FSC certification projects. For the 3 FSC certification projects in Slovakia around 100 people were fully trained in FSC issues. In Slovakia we were running 3 levels of training; for decision makers, for operational managers and for field workers. In the last years around 20 training sessions were organized. Both classroom and field courses were given and handouts, presentations etc were prepared in the local languages. Projects paid by foundation Doen.
Country:
Mexico |
Name:
Training Center/Experimental
Station for mushroom growing |
Starting Date:
May 1998 |
Status:
Completed in October 2001 |
Done by:
Ronald Poppens |
057 |
In this project, an experimental station and training center for mushroom growing was established in cooperation with local non-governmental organization Cedicam. The project included an eight-day practical (hands-on) training program for Cedicam members in organizational and technical aspects of mushroom growing on locally available organic waste materials. Training aspects included the use of facilities and equipment, the production of spawn, inoculation, substrate preparation, maintenance, harvesting, hygiene as well as organizational and commercial aspects. The project was financed by the National Committee for International Cooperation and Sustainable Development (NCDO) as well as by two other Dutch NGO's.
Country:
Vietnam |
Name:
Revamping the complete
curriculum for a forestry
training center. |
Starting Date:
1992 |
Status:
Finished 1992 |
Done by:
Rop Monster |
072 |
In cooperation with IPC Groene Ruimte and financed by DGIS a complete renewed training curriculum was developed and implemented for a large training center
Country:
Cameroun |
Name:
T.A. to train the trainer
programme Ecole de
faun, Garoua. |
Starting Date:
1991 |
Status:
Finished 1991 |
Done by:
Rop Monster |
070 |
In cooperation with IPC Groene Ruimte and financed by DGIS a complete renewed training curriculum was developed and implemented for forest guards.
Country:
Surinam |
Name:
Revamping the complete
curriculum of the traing center. |
Starting Date:
1991 |
Status:
Finished 1991 |
Done by:
Rop Monster |
071 |
In cooperation with IPC Groene Ruimte and financed by DGIS a complete renewed training curriculum was developed and implemented for existing training center
Gender projects:
There are no special Gender projects yet. But gender issues are part of every larger development project.
Export to the EU? Help to commercial companies and BSO's:
Country:
Ghana, Sri Lanka,
Honduras, Costa Rica,
Guatemala and Ecuador |
Name:
Bring sawmill
companies to the EU market. |
Starting Date:
2003 |
Status:
Finished 2009) |
Done by:
Marco Bijl. |
051 |
FSG is preparing sawmill companies from developing countries for the EU market. We are doing that since 2003 and in close cooperation with the
Dutch
CBI (Centre for the Promotion of Imports from developing countries). CBI is an agency of the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign affairs.
This preparation or assistance will differ per company but include training, financial issues, making trade offers, quality control, market research and
FSC-COC Pre-Assessments. All assistance is offered for free by CBI as a development project. We are only offering services, we will not act as buyer or agent.
After all this assistance we also link the companies to actual customers. For this we are using a self-developed database of around 450 importers in the EU.
100% of the program companies did find new customer within 2 years of our assistance. The system CBI and FSG is using has been proven successfully.
At the moment the program is active in Ghana, Sri Lanka, Honduras, Costa Rica, Guatemala and Ecuador. Around 30 companies are assisted on a day-to-day basis.
If you are not based in the countries above we can still help you. But then it's not for free. Ask for our offers if you are interested.
Country:
Bolivia |
Name:
Improve export capacity |
Starting Date:
2009 |
Status:
Ongoing (finish end 2010) |
Done by:
Marco Bijl. |
094 |
As consultants to
CBI we are assisting the forest and timber sector in Bolivia to improve their access to the EU markets. For this we are working with
Cadex, Cadefor and the
Camera Forestal besides many other stakeholders. The actual work consist of: Export marketing training, export product development, development of a market information system (with local and EU info), development of a Sector Export Marketing Plan (SEMP) EU trade fair assistance and trade missions, improve skills of local labour force, promote lesser known species and initiate and establish a working platform named the "Timber Task Force".
Forest technology processes & technical assistance to sawmills
Country:
Ecuador |
Name:
Proyecto Piloto Bambú. |
Starting Date:
May 2003 |
Status:
Completed in April 2006 |
Done by:
Ronald Poppens. |
053 |
Within E.U. funded Proyecto Piloto Bambú, that seeks development of the Andean region in South America on the basis of bamboo, conducted by the International Network for Bamboo and Rattan (INBAR) and several partner organizations, a technology validation was conducted on the production and commercialization of bamboo splits in the coastal zone of Ecuador. The validation consisted of four case studies; three farmers with different production styles and one industrial plantation. The respective activities of bamboo grove and plantation management, harvesting, processing and commercialization was thoroughly documented, compared and analyzed using social, technical, economic and environmental criteria. Also the NGO Hogar de Cristo was validated, which is the most important market in Ecuador for bamboo splits. Hogar de Cristo manufactures low-cost bamboo housing for the urban poor in Ecuador's coastal zone and combines this with other programs, that include micro-credits, training and other services.
Country:
Ghana |
Name:
Trade and Investment Program (TIRP) |
Starting Date:
1998 |
Status:
Finished 2002 |
Done by:
Gustav Adu. |
075 |
Asuo Bomosadu Timbers and Sawmill Ltd (ABTS) is a wholly Ghanaian owned company and started from small beginnings with a tractor, a haulage truck and a mobile sawmill in 1980.
By 1998, it was operating 3-line sawmill, installed kiln dryers, molding, rotary veneer/plymill plants at which time it was saddled
with organizational, production and marketing challenges. Through the Trade and Investment Program (TIRP), ABTS
was provided with technical assistance (TA) and training to restructure its finances, modernize its management and
added parquet flooring to its operation. Production efficiency has increased tremendously and waste of timber resource minimized considerably.
ABTS now exports rotary veneer, plywood, kiln dried lumber, parquet flooring to European and American markets.
ABTS is located in the rural area of the Brong Ahafo Region, where its location has benefited the community immensely.
It has over 850 people in direct employment in its logging and milling operations.
Bibiani Logging and Lumber Company Limited (BLLC) is a wholly Ghanaian owned company, incorporated in 1960 and engaged in logging and production of lumber and profile boards.
BLLC operations were affected by the general economic down turn of the 1970s and 80s. Initial assistance given it under the
Trade and Investment Program (TIP) enabled the company to restructure its logging, sawmill and molding operations.
Some sawmill rehabilitation and production improvement and control was undertaken to raise output.
BLLC continued to receive TIRP-TA from 1998 by using the Wood Manager software developed with IPEP funds to
analyze and control its financial operations. IPEP also prescribed job contents and terms of reference for BBLC to
engage industry specialists to reorganize the sawmill production process and to set operational and quality control
systems. IPEP monitored the performance of the specialist firm. Turnaround in export sales was achieved from 2001,
increasing from $0.727 million to $2.194 million in 2003. During the period BLLC invested $910,000 EXIM-BANK
credit into logging and trucking equipment and $250,000 Forest Resource Management Program (World Bank funded)
credit to expand kilning capacity and fund spare parts to rehabilitate sawmill and molding equipment. BLLC now has
enough forest concessions with adequate raw material that provided sufficient guarantee for it to negotiate $1.8 million
Export Development and Investment Fund (EDIF) credit which is being utilized for a new plymill structure and buildings.
Under the Trade and Investment Program (TIRP) over 30 lead firms received technical assistance and increased
export earnings by $50 million, 400 firm operators were trained, 100 Small-Medium Scale Enterprises are now using new technology and
10 firms are restructured and are growing.
Country:
Ghana |
Name:
Wood Sector Development Program (WSDP) |
Starting Date:
2003 |
Status:
Finished 2004 |
Done by:
Gustav Adu. |
076 |
The use of ordinary Greenhouse type Solar Dryers to dry timber has been researched into by the Forest Research Institute of Ghana (FORIG)
about three decades ago and found to be viable. However commercial application of the technology was not effected until IPEP
collaborated with the EU funded Wood Sector Development Program (WSDP) to install over 10 dryers around the country and train over
14 technicians in its operation and maintenance. A manual for installation, operation and maintenance of Solar Dryers
has been written and published for use in Ghana.
Country:
Ghana |
Name:
Rehabilitation & Operation of the Poku Group of Companies |
Starting Date:
2003 |
Status:
Finished 2004 |
Done by:
Gustav Adu. |
077 |
IPEP TA has been responsible for formulating a new organizational structure and defining management functions as well as describing and
specifying jobs, which have been approved and installed by the Board of Directors of PGC.
Technical TA given included directions on the nature and specifications for equipment rehabilitation and replacement,
which were carried out by maintenance engineers engaged by PGC. US $90,000 bank
credit and $140,000 owner's funds have been invested in initial rehabilitation in trucks and processing equipment.
All four chambers of the company's 100-m3 capacity kiln dryer plant are now working efficiently.
Training in machine operations and grading of products have been provided for products to meet
export standards and specifications. PGC with no production and export in past 2-1/2 years has in the 3rd quarter of 2003
shipped 4 containers trial orders of kiln-dried lumber valued at US $55,381 to an importer introduced to the company by IPEP consultant.
Enquiries have also been received from rotary veneer buyers from Spain. As full-time production gets underway, the current labor
comprising 50 in bush operations, 20 in maintenance, 20 in the veneer/plymill, 20 in the sawmill and
15 in the furniture plant is to be increased to a total of 300.
Country:
Ghana, Sri Lanka,
Honduras, Costa Rica,
Guatemala and Ecuador |
Name:
Bring sawmill
companies to the EU market. |
Starting Date:
2003 |
Status:
Ongoing (finished end 2009) |
Done by:
Marco Bijl. |
051 |
FSG is preparing sawmill companies from developing countries for the EU market. We are doing that since 2003 and in close cooperation with the
Dutch
CBI (Centre for the Promotion of Imports from developing countries). CBI is an agency of the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign affairs.
This preparation or assistance will differ per company but include training, financial issues, making trade offers, quality control, market research and
FSC-COC Pre-Assessments. All assistance is offered for free by CBI as a development project. We are only offering services, we will not act as buyer or agent.
After all this assistance we also link the companies to actual customers. For this we are using a self-developed database of around 450 importers in the EU.
100% of the program companies did find new customer within 2 years of our assistance. The system CBI and FSG is using has been proven successfully.
At the moment the program is active in Ghana, Sri Lanka, Honduras, Costa Rica, Guatemala and Ecuador. Around 30 companies are assisted on a day-to-day basis.
If you are not based in the countries above we can still help you. But then it's not for free. Ask for our offers if you are interested.
Country:
Slovakia |
Name:
Built and managed a new factory in Eastern Slovakia |
Starting Date:
2002 |
Status:
2006 |
Done by:
Andrew Leslie. |
079 |
Built and managed a new factory in Eastern Slovakia for the production of hardwood furniture
components with a capacity of 5,000m3 per year and a €2m turnover (2002- 2006). A complete new sawmill with kilns is installed.
Climate related projects
Country:
Bosnia |
Name:
Carbon assessment State Forest and private forest owners group |
Starting Date:
2011 |
Status:
Proposal ready. Fundraising |
Done by:
Marco + Ronald + Aad |
2011-7 |
Together with our partner Future Forest Rumanien we will carry out a first Carbon assessment with State Forest in Bosnia and
with a large group of private forest owners ("a private forest group"). This first investment is paid by a group of Dutch investors.
Country:
Spain |
Name:
Scouting work Spain; 3 different Climate projects |
Starting Date:
2011 |
Status:
EU proposal written and accepted. Project started |
Done by:
Marco & Ronald |
2011-1 |
With a subsidy of the Dutch Chamber of Commerce (
P2S fund)
we started to work in Spain together with the local partner
Transfer LBC.
After a scouting mission to Spain we are developing 3 different proposals for Forest-Climate-reforestation projects;
for EU project for Life+ about a new integral way of working to earn more income per hectare, 1 trade offer for current forest owners (carbon feasibility study)
and one general proposal with a range of local stakeholders (same integral way of working, but now with investors).
Country:
Indonesia, Aceh |
Name:
Leuser project |
Starting Date:
2010 |
Status:
Full Business plan ready and with investor. |
Done by:
Marco + Ronald |
2010-8 |
For a Swiss based
GER we are conducting a feasibility study in Aceh, in the Leuser ecosystem.
This to see what the opportunities are to start a large scale VCS, CCBA or REDD project together with the local government.
We do this together with the locally based office of
Casper van der Tak consultancy.
Country:
Sri Lanka |
Name:
Climate project Sri Lanka |
Starting Date:
2010 |
Status:
Looking for funding |
Done by:
Marco + Asanka |
2009-3 |
To help counteract climate change and related natural disasters and long-term protection of natural resources for the benefit of people and the environment in the country. This we will reach by:
1. Establish new forest plantations on locations where there was no forest previously (afforestation).
2. Start reforestation activities on previously forested land. That means that degraded forest lands are restored. 3. Start reforestation or afforestation (plantations) activities on eroded land or other land areas.
New forests will be managed according to FSC principles and carbon credits will be secured while using one of the available climate mechanisms and markets. Project implemented with local counterparts and EU investors.
Country:
Mozambique |
Name:
Climate project Mozambique |
Starting/End Date:
2010 |
Status:
Project development only |
Done by:
Marco + Ronald |
2010-1 |
To help counteract climate change and related natural disasters and long-term protection of natural resources for the benefit of people and the environment in the country. This we will reach by:
1. Establish new forest plantations on locations where there was no forest previously (afforestation).
2. Start reforestation activities on previously forested land. That means that degraded forest lands are restored.
New forests will be managed according to FSC principles and carbon credits will be secured while using one of the available climate mechanisms and markets. Project implemented with local counterparts and EU investors.
Country:
Sri Lanka |
Name:
Climate Biomass project Sri Lanka |
Starting Date:
2010 |
Status:
Project development and funding |
Done by:
Marco + Asanka |
2010-2 |
To help counteract climate change and related natural disasters and long-term protection of natural resources for the benefit of people and the environment in the country. This we will reach by: Transform agricultural waste into fuel for energy plants. Here we will make sure that carbon emissions are avoided by making 'pellets' from biomass, to be used by energy plants. We can then claim the credits for avoided emissions. Biomass can be anything; vegetable waste from markets; sugar cane bagasse, fruit processing waste; sawdust; etc. This project seeks a win-win situation, where use of agricultural residues collected from dumped stockpiles, help reduce global CO² and methane emissions significantly. The project contributes to sustainability of agricultural commodity chains, by providing an alternative to dumping of residues that cause local pollution and global greenhouse emissions. Sustainability is guaranteed by developing certification systems for the commodity chains of agricultural residues. By selling agricultural waste products on energy markets for substitution of fossil fuel, harmful greenhouse emissions are being reduced. At the same time, opportunities are generated for local employment and income generation.
Country:
Uganda |
Name:
Climate project Uganda |
Starting Date:
2010 |
Status:
Looking for funding |
Done by:
Marco + Ronald |
2010-3 |
To help counteract climate change and related natural disasters and long-term protection of natural resources for the benefit of people and the environment in the country. This we will reach by:
1. Establish new forest plantations on locations where there was no forest previously (afforestation).
2. Start reforestation activities on previously forested land. That means that degraded forest lands are restored. . Start reforestation or afforestation (plantations) activities on eroded land or other land areas.
New forests will be managed according to FSC principles and carbon credits will be secured while using one of the available climate mechanisms and markets. Project implemented with local counterparts and EU investors.
Country:
Nicaragua |
Name:
Climate project Nicaragua |
Starting Date:
2010 |
Status:
No funding found |
Done by:
Marco + Saskia |
2010-4 |
To help counteract climate change and related natural disasters and long-term protection of natural resources for the benefit of people and the environment in the country. This we will reach by:
1. Establish new forest plantations on locations where there was no forest previously (afforestation).
2. Start reforestation activities on previously forested land. That means that degraded forest lands are restored. 3. Start reforestation or afforestation (plantations) activities on eroded land or other land areas.
New forests will be managed according to FSC principles and carbon credits will be secured while using one of the available climate mechanisms and markets. Project implemented with local counterparts and EU investors.
Country:
Honduras |
Name:
Climate project Honduras |
Starting Date:
2010 |
Status:
Cancelled |
Done by:
Marco + Sergio |
2010-5 |
To help counteract climate change and related natural disasters and long-term protection of natural resources for the benefit of people and the environment in the country. This we will reach by:
1. Establish new forest and Agroforestry plantations on locations where there was no forest previously (afforestation). 2. Start reforestation activities on previously forested land with native commercial timber species. That means that degraded forest & Watershed lands are restored. 3. A project where we will avoid further emissions from deforestation by battling for example illegal harvesting, set forest borders etc. (Typical REDD project).
New forests will be managed according to FSC principles and carbon credits will be secured while using one of the available climate mechanisms and markets. Project implemented with local counterparts and EU investors.
Country:
Indonesia, Aceh |
Name:
Leuser project |
Starting Date:
2010 |
Status:
Feasability study Climate project potential |
Done by:
Marco + Ronald |
2010-8 |
For a Swiss investor we are conducting a feasibility study in Aceh, in the Leuser ecosystem. This to see what the opportunities are to start a large scale VCS, CCBA or REDD project together with the local government. We do this together with the locally based office of
Casper van der Tak consultancy.
Country:
Scotland |
Name:
Carbon Management |
Starting Date:
2000 |
Status:
Finished |
Done by:
Andrew Leslie. |
090 |
EU funded research into the role of forests as carbon sinks.
This work was carried out in conjunction with the Edinburgh
Centre for Carbon Management and aimed to link the processes
of sustainable forest management certification and carbon verification.
As a result the Scottisch company "Scottish Woodlands" is able to advise clients and businesses on the
suitability of planting new woodlands as carbon sinks and also advises potential
carbon purchasers on suitable carbon offset projects.
Latest project number 96
