For the Forests Bank ecological and social issues within an ecosystem are of equal importance. It is impossible to deal with our native forests and ignore the people that live in them. It’s because these people are important to us that we have to look after the forests. This is an essential and imperative change of paradigm and part of the enormous challenge we are facing. To destroy native forests in the name of progress is wrong and a contradiction to the concept of progress. If the state of forests improve humans will also thrive. Unfortunately this is not the current belief and it will take a great effort to overcome the opinion that forests are an obstacle to production. We strongly believe that jobs and profit are possible also beyond this line. After years of bad management native forests are now in bad shape (degraded as they call it) but they can be extremely productive if well managed on a long term sustainable scheme. The Forest Bank takes the challenge to manage these forests correctly, respect the environment with the highest standards, strictly observe the law and treat personnel respectfully whether they are employees of the foundation or of commissioned enterprises.
Some of our main rules:
whenever possible hire local people
conditions of employment of the foundation’s and commissioned enterprises’ employees must comply with the law
staff must be regularly trained concerning technical and environmental protection issues, they will be enabled to understand the project’s ecological and social objectives.
Results and experiences from this new form of forest management will be discussed with the community and with local business. We are determined to face the challenge. Our aim is a self-sufficient economy with sustainable activities such as the production of organic honey, certified timber, eco tourism and moderate forest pasture.
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