Day 3 – Case Study (HCV identification)

[master]

Based on your readings on HVC and on the video on the High Carbon value approach, it was possible to see a variety of tools and techniques to understand land use change overtime. You as an auditor are not expected to develop such type of assessments as part of your ProTerra auditing. Remember that the burden to demonstrate compliance lies with the auditee. Of course, you can prepare for your audit consulting readily available materials, but ideally the auditee should be prepared to clearly demonstrate compliance with the cutoff date of January 2008.

 

Please in the case study of today write a few paragraphs discussing:

 1.     What are the types of evidences are being presented by auditees (or researched by you in preparation for the audit) that are currently used in ProTerra Audits to access land use change? Please describe any opportunity to further improve these evidences should you find it necessary.

 2.     Considering the high conservation value areas as defined by the HCV Network, ProTerra V4.1 has explicitly included in the list of areas that may not be converted to agricultural land, areas with cultural values, archaeological or historical significance, and/or of critical cultural or religious/sacred importance for the traditional cultures of local communities or indigenous peoples. With respect to these areas to you see the need of any additional preparation from your side or evidence being provided by the auditee? What are sources of information that can help you in your auditing work with respect to this topic?

 3.     Considering the image below, what area, based on the High Carbon value approach and HCV concept, you understand could be clear for agricultural production and what issue should be raised by a ProTerra auditor?

[Joana Carvalho]

1- Mapas da fazenda a partir de imagens de satélite, imagens obtidas em diferentes datas podem demonstrar se houve abertura de área no período ou não.
Se o produtor não possuir estas imagens, a esmagadora ou trade que compra do produtor poderá fornecer.

2- O auditor deve ter se informado antes da auditoria se existe a possibilidade de ter havido esse tipo de área no local auditado. E em cima disso, avaliar se o auditado precisa apresentar evidências ou não. Sobre as fontes de informação seria por pesquisa na internet, e por entrevista com a comunidade local, especialmente se houver alguma comunidade indígena próxima.

3- Precisa avaliar se as árvores dessa área são nativas ou de outro tipo (madeira de reflorestamento, por exemplo). Se for nativa, mesmo sendo com baixa densidade, não poderia abrir após 2008.

[Alice]

You are correct, but I would like to share some additional information.

From the perspective of auditors it would be important to look for data in public sources of aerial/satellite images. Google Earth as you indicated it has historical photographs than can be checked to help identify possible land clearance. If the investigation on possible land clearance could be checked before going on site, the auditor would have information that would help him/her make the “right questions” to the auditee in relation to this topic and solve any misunderstanding during the audit itself.

With respect to sources of potential information in relation to HCV, we suggest that the auditor searches on available websites to gather information about protected areas and threatened species, such as http://www.ramsar.org , http://www.iucnredlist.org, http://www.birdlife.org and Integrated Biodiversity Assessment Tool (IBAT) for Business form IUCN, UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Many elements are necessary to understand possibilities of land use change, including local regulations.

In relation to the image, many elements are necessary to understand possibilities of land use change, including the presence of areas with cultural values, archaeological or historical significance, and/or of critical cultural or religious/sacred importance for the traditional cultures of local communities or indigenous peoples (these are also HCVs!). But in having said so, please look at the image proposed in the exercise and, from the perspective of presence of vegetation exclusively, the far right would the area to consider (but having the need to confirm that other aspects considered under HCV are duly met).

[Alexia]

Bom Dia Alice
Estou testando os cometários para ver se eu consigo postar alguma coisa!

[Alice]

OK

[Author]

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