AYUM SHOWS THE WAY IN BEST TIMBER PRACTICES (PAGE 20)

THE Ayum Forest Products (Mim) Limited, a forest resource concession holder in the Asunafo North Municipality of the Brong Ahafo Region, has committed about $500 million towards a reforestation project in the degraded Amama Forest Reserve at Atronie, near Sunyani.
From 2003 when the programme began, the company has planted over five million indigenous tree species.
The tree species which cover an area of 42.28sqkm, include Cinderella, Ofram, Ceiba, Mahogany, Edinam, Wawa, Utile, Emire, Kyenkyen, Koto, Kokrodua, Mansonia, Asanfina, Makore, Akasaa and Ortie.
Currently, the company sources about 80 per cent of all wood material input from its own managed lease area while its current forest management practices are in line with Ghana’s Forestry Laws and regulations as well as the logging manual.
In addition, the company is highly committed to forest restoration in degraded areas and reclamation of log sidings in productive forest areas, using indigenous species.
As one of the largest timber companies in the country, Ayum has the opportunity to positively influence the Ghanaian landscape through its commitment to, responsible forestry practices to become a leader in the sub-regional forest products industry.
Recently, the company joined the Global Forest and Trade Network-West Africa, thereby, committing its forest concessions to responsible forest management through credible certification. In addition to the forest concessions under the company’s management, Ayum also agreed to implement responsible procurement policies for the timber entering its sawmills, veneer and plymills.
The company’s forest reserves are crucial to the conservation and protection of biodiversity in the Guinean Moist Forest Eco-region, which is considered the most rich region in West Africa.
Some of its concessions are located in the Bia-Goaso-Djimbarakrou conservation corridors, which comprises a network of forests that lie across the border between Southern Ghana and South Eastern La Cote d’Ivoire.
The responsible management and identification of high conservation forests in these concessions will help to protect habitats for vulnerable or threatened species. By providing an example for other companies to follow, Ayum will assist the Global Forest Trade Network-West Africa in reaching a tipping point in responsible forest standard business practice by 2015.
During a recent interaction the management of the company had with the press at Mim, near Goaso, the Director of Administration of Naja David Group, Mr Akufo Owoo, hinted that Ayum had adopted a waste management system that ensured proper management and disposal of waste at all levels of the company’s operations. “Wood processing is conducted in a manner that generates minimum amount of waste and that notwithstanding, the greater proportion of waste generated in the factory was recycled and utilised in its production process, “ he said.
He said the company was committed to the World Wildlife Fund’s (WWF) Global Forest Trade Network programme and to this end, it had identified and developed special management plans to protect the habitat of the recently rediscovered and highly endangered Rock Fowl in collaboration with the Ghana Wildlife society.
Mr Akufo-Owoo indicated that Ayum would continue to work with WWF- West Africa Forest Programme Office to improve the quality of forest management and implement a veritable, documented step-by-step process to achieving the Forest Stewardship Certification (FSC).
He said the company also believed that the forest was a backbone of the Ghanaian economy and had the potential of contributing significantly to the company’s aspirations of achieving poverty reduction and sustainable . “The company’s goal is, therefore, contribute to sustainable development in Ghana and was determined to adopt and practice the principles of responsible forest management, “ Mr Akufo-Owoo said.
He said Ayum was committed to the development and welfare of communities and people within its operational areas, sustainable resources management and value addition through down-stream processing of timber.
The commitment towards local development is manifest in the company’s numerous development programmes in communities such as Adabokrom in the Juabeso-Bia District in the Western Region, Atronie and Mim/Akwaboah in the Goaso Municipality.
“Ayum believed that a committed workforce was an asset to the company and therefore, it attached a great deal of importance to the development and well-being of its workforce of 2,157, “ Mr Akufo-Owoo said and that management regularly organised training workshops and refresher courses on occupational hazards and health matters for its employees.
It runs a 24-hour health post with competent health personnel supported by a well-equipped ambulance to provide emergency services.
It was expected that other timber companies in the sub-sector would emulate its practices.