[Verginia Guazzelli]

I would verify conformity to the requirements of Principle 4 by rewiewing pertinent documentation and by conducting a field visit.
The document review would include maps and satellite images of the farm, the Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) and corresponding management plan, required licenses and permits to verify legal compliance, relevant procedures and policies such as non-hunting policy, and a biodiversity management plan.
The field visit would focus mainly on HCV and other native vegetation areas, verifying the conditions and width of these areas, as well as areas under restoration.
Evidences of conformity to each indicator are detailed below.

4.1.1
– Review of satellite images with geo-coordinates of the areas under certification, comparing images of 31December 2008 and of present date, to verify that has been no deforestation in the period.
In the case it is identified that deforestation occurred between 1st January 2009 and 31 December 2020, the organisation must provide documented evidence that has taken the required actions to restore the area, and has submmitted them to the ProTerra Foundation, according to ProTerra Procedure for Compensation and Restoration

4.1.2
– In case there are governmental regulations and international conventions that pose additional restrictions, the auditor will verify licenses and permits that demonstrate legal compliance.

4.2.1
– Records of a study conducted by an external expert and a biodiversity management plan.
– Map wtih geo-coordinates identifying valuable biodiversity areas, riparian vegetation, vegetation around flood plains, steep slopes, hills and wetlands.
– If any of these areas needs restoration, look for associated monitoring records. If restoration is not possible, the organisation must provide documented evidence of compensatory measures taken.
– Field inspection, visiting the native vegetation areas and any restoration area, verifying that the map and other records reflect what has been seen in the field. Check if the width of vegetation area is sufficient to maintain biodiversity and prevent erosion.

4.2.2
– Check if there is a documented policy prohibiting hunting, fishing and gathering in the certified areas.
– Check if the identification of rare, threatened or endangered wildlife species in the property was documented.
– Look for advising signs regarding prohibition in the property.
– Interview workers to verify that they are aware of the policy.

4.2.3
– Verify if there is a procedure for preventing the introduction of invasive species and new pests.
– In case of past introductions prior to certification, check how they are controlled and monitored.
– Verify if the organisation has a documented requirement to promptly report any pest breakdown to authorities.

4.3.1.
– Verify if there is an Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA). And if there is a Management Plan to address where necessary potentially harmful or damaging impacts and risks identified in the ESIA.
– Check if the ESIA was developed with support of external experts and if it commensurates with the scale of the operation.
– Check if the ESIA adresses the sustainability of the environment, wildlife and endangered species, and the social impacts on the local population including indigenous people and traditional land users, if applicable.
– Visit the organisation website to verify that a summary of the mangement plan and ESIA is publicly available on the website.

4.3.2
– Check if there is a up-to-date map of the farm with geo-coordinates identfying areas of native vegetation,
– Check if there is a plan to restore native vegetation areas where necessary, and verify related records.
– During the field visit check the native vegetation areas as well as restored areas and see if they correspond to what is presented in the map.

[Verginia Guazzelli]

Dear All,
Good morning from Brazil to everyone.
My name Is Verginia Guazzelli, I am a pharmacist with specialization in Food Industry. I worked in the Brazilian Ministry of Agriculture which gave me acquaintance with agricultural production. I also worked in a Brazilian NGO, Center of Ecological Agriculture, where the focus was sustainable agriculture for small producers, including social aspects. After that I worked for 18 years as a CB technical manager, carrying out cerification against sustainability standards, mainly the ProTerra Standard, since its first version. I have also coordinated the conduction of ProTerra verification audits on soybean farms and sugar mills. I was a member of the Standards and Certification Committee of ProTerra Foundation for a few years.
Now I am seeking qualification on version 5.0 of the ProTerra Standard.

[Author]

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