Imaflora certifies another timber company holding a Federal Forest Concession.

The company Madeflona has received FSC® (Forest Stewardship Council®) Certification for the production of timber sourced from federal forest concession areas in the state of Rondônia, Brazil.

In January of this year, Madeflona Industrial Madeireira Ltda was awarded FSC® certification by the Institute for Forest and Agricultural Management and Certification (Imaflora) for timber produced through the management of federal forest concessions in Rondônia. The company estimates a production of 60,000 m³ of certified roundwood, which will supply its own operations as well as other regional industries.

Founded in 2008 and winner of Brazil’s first public forest concession bidding process, Madeflona is the largest holder of forest management plans in the state of Rondônia. The company currently manages four forest management units under concession—two in the Jacundá National Forest and two in the Jamari National Forest—located in the municipalities of Itapuã D’Oeste, Candeias do Jamari, and Porto Velho, totaling more than 130,000 hectares of forest designated for sustainable use.

Socio-environmental certification encourages environmental, social, and economic improvements in the forestry and agricultural sectors. It recognizes responsible practices that contribute to the conservation of natural resources, ensure fair and dignified working conditions, and promote positive relationships with communities surrounding the certified area, property, or company.

FSC® is the world’s leading forest certification system. Present in more than 80 countries, the FSC® label indicates that forest-based raw materials come from areas managed in an environmentally appropriate manner, with fair labor conditions and economic viability.

Currently in Brazil, more than 879,000 hectares of forests under public forest concessions are FSC® certified, with 59% certified by Imaflora. These include the companies Ebata (Saracá-Taquera National Forest), Samise (Saracá-Taquera National Forest), RRX (Altamira National Forest), and Madeflona (newly certified – Jamari and Jacundá National Forests). In state-level concessions, Imaflora has also certified areas managed by RRX Paru and Bluetimber Paru.

According to Evandro José Muhlbauer, Director of Madeflona, FSC® certification ensures that the company conducts all activities transparently, respects local communities and cultural practices, and guarantees sustainability. “Accreditation through independent audits reaffirms our commitment to best practices in company operations, which is also one of the fundamental principles of forest concessions,” he stated. With certification, Madeflona expects to expand access primarily to Northern European markets, as well as to consumer markets that use timber as raw material for finished products.

Forest Concessions as a Conservation Tool

Muhlbauer also argues that forest concessions granted to private companies are an effective mechanism to prevent illegal activities in these areas. “Forest concessions in the Amazon region are a symbol of the sustainable economy, with intangible benefits, since timber forest management involves harvesting only two to three trees among hundreds or even thousands per hectare,” he explained. “The trees selected for harvest typically present phenological characteristics indicating they have passed their peak reproductive stage. When harvested using reduced-impact logging techniques, the change to the forest structure is almost imperceptible.”

“With the forest kept standing, the benefits to society are immeasurable—helping balance the climate, preserve biodiversity of fauna and flora, and regulate the hydrological cycle and rainfall that are so critical for agricultural activities. Forest management also generates jobs and income, promotes rural employment, and brings well-deserved livelihoods and dignity to forest-dependent communities,” Evandro concluded.

To learn more about FSC® certification, visit: www.imaflora.org/o-que-fazemos/certificacoes/fsc