Country Risk Profiles

Timber

Save your supply chain for quick access to risk data in the future. You will also receive notifications about changes in the risk profile of countries in your supply chain. You will need to create a supply chain for each country of origin that you source from.

Supply chain title

Country of harvest

Transit country (optional)

Download all data excel

List of risk mitigation options

If a risk has been identified for a specific commodity, then that risk will have to be mitigated before sourcing from the country of origin. Addressing a risk can be done by verifying documentation, or it can require onsite field verification. It can also include engaging with local communities. The complexity of such risk mitigation efforts will depend on the risk identified and the country of origin. Below is an overview of recommended actions for mitigating risks. The mitigation measures have been grouped by the types of actions relevant for the respective country. If you want to see each risk listed with the relevant mitigation options, please go to the Risk Overview tab. Please mind that risk mitigation is the responsibility of the purchaser of the product. This requires that the purchaser shall assess if the risk has been adressed.

Document verification

Stakeholder consultation

Field verification

Document verification

Collecting and validating relevant documents is a crucial part of identifying and assessing supply chain risks. A critical review of the documents is vital to mitigating risks and understanding their information value. Always be aware of the dangers of fraudulent documentation.

Risk mitigation options

Plantation or reforestation plan

Source Types:Plantation in forest reserves

Mitigation Option : Verify Plantation or Reforestation plan

Plantation or reforestation plan approved by the Forestry Commission shall be available

MARK AS DONE

Risk : Plantation and reforestation plans are lacking

Timber Utilisation Contract (TUC) area plan

Source Types:Natural forest

Mitigation Option : Verify Timber Utilisation Contract (TUC) area plan

TUC holder must have TUC area plan covering the whole TUC area in forest reserves and off forest reserves that has been approved by the Forestry Commission

MARK AS DONE

Risk : Risk that area plans, and operational plans are lacking or not meeting legal requirements

Mitigation Option : Verify Timber Utilisation Contract (TUC) area plan

TUC area map showing locations of large, protected areas within a forest management unit or defined forest area.

MARK AS DONE

Risk : Protected areas are illegally harvested

Harvesting plan

Source Types:Natural forest

Mitigation Option : Verify Harvesting plan

TUC holder must have harvesting plan or 5 year TUC operational plan covering one coupe or group of compartments to be logged over five year period.

MARK AS DONE

Risk : Risk that area plans, and operational plans are lacking or not meeting legal requirements

Timber Utilisation Contract (TUC) operational plan

Source Types:Natural forest

Mitigation Option : Verify Timber Utilisation Contract (TUC) operational plan

TUC holder must have harvesting plan or 5 year TUC operational plan covering one coupe or group of compartments to be logged over five year period.

MARK AS DONE

Risk : Risk that area plans, and operational plans are lacking or not meeting legal requirements

List of trees approved for harvesting by the Forestry Commission

Source Types:Natural forest

Mitigation Option : Verify List of trees approved for harvesting by the Forestry Commission

The TUC holder must have a map delimiting the defined forest area and the sub-divisions or order in which the area is to be harvested (e.g. harvesting schedule or felling coupes) prepared and approved by the Forestry Commission.

MARK AS DONE

Risk : Risk that area plans, and operational plans are lacking or not meeting legal requirements

Compartment logging plan

Source Types:Natural forest

Mitigation Option : Verify Compartment logging plan

TUC holder must have a compartment logging plan for forest reserves and annual logging plan for off forest reserve areas approved by the Forestry Commission as part of the yield approval process.

MARK AS DONE

Risk : Risk that area plans, and operational plans are lacking or not meeting legal requirements

Harvesting permit

Source Types:Natural forestPlantation in forest reservesPlantation off-forest reserveSubmerged forest

Mitigation Option : Verify Harvesting permit

Collect harvesting permit for all timber sources. If timber originates from special permits, avoid purchasing.

MARK AS DONE

Risk : Illegal issuing of special permits

Timber Utilisation Contract (TUC)

Source Types:Natural forest

Mitigation Option : Verify Timber Utilisation Contract (TUC)

TUCs shall be available and contain the required documentation/ information:

Concession map;
Valid property mark;
Approved harvesting schedule/blocking or coupes delineation;
Pre-harvest compartment inspections;
Approved yield/yield marking;
Logging plan

MARK AS DONE

Risk : Logging takes place without a permit

Mitigation Option : Verify Timber Utilisation Contract (TUC)

MARK AS DONE

Risk : Risk that concession leases are not converted to Timber Utilisation Contract (TUCs)

Salvage permits

Source Types:Natural forestPlantation in forest reservesPlantation off-forest reserve

Mitigation Option : Verify Salvage permits

MARK AS DONE

Risk : Logging takes place without a permit

Mitigation Option : Verify Salvage permits

Receive copy of and verify that salvage permits are not issued for banned species or misused to harvest banned species:

Salvage permits shall be issued through application to the Chief Executive of the Forestry Commission;
Verify that species specified in the terms of permits are not misrepresented or changed, and that these species are not on the list of banned/restricted species;
Verify that harvesting requirements are set out in the permit conditions, including volumes to be salvaged, duration and location of the salvage. The location and duration of salvaging shall be verified with supply chain documentation.

MARK AS DONE

Risk : Award of salvage permits for banned species in violation with salvage permit conditions

Entry permit or released letter issued by the FSD Forest District

Source Types:Plantation in forest reserves

Mitigation Option : Verify Entry permit or released letter issued by the FSD Forest District

Entry permits are obtained through application to the Chief Executive of the Forestry Commission. Verify that harvesting requirements are set out in the permit conditions.

MARK AS DONE

Risk : Logging takes place without an Entry permit

Permit for restricted species

Source Types:Natural forest

Mitigation Option : Verify Permit for restricted species

For restricted timber species, loggers must hold a valid permit for restricted species issued by the FC for the defined harvesting unit.

MARK AS DONE

Risk : Protected species are illegally harvested

Approved harvesting schedule/blocking or coupes delineation

Source Types:Natural forest

Mitigation Option : Verify Approved harvesting schedule/blocking or coupes delineation

Approved harvesting schedule/blocking excluding large, protected areas (referred to as "coarse grain" protection (e.g. provenance areas, globally significant biodiversity areas, etc.) forest progress maps

MARK AS DONE

Risk : Protected areas are illegally harvested

Approved yield/markings

Source Types:Natural forest

Mitigation Option : Verify approved yield/markings

Yield maps indicating locations of fine grain protection areas (all trees in fine-grained areas are required to be exempted) must be available to logger onsite.

MARK AS DONE

Risk : Protected areas are illegally harvested

Records from the timber operator to demonstrate that all employees are registered under the NHIS

Source Types:Natural forestPlantation in forest reservesPlantation off-forest reserveSubmerged forest

Mitigation Option : Verify records from the timber operator to demonstrate that all employees are registered under the NHIS

Registration can be verified through;

Records from the timber operator to demonstrate that all employees are registered under the NHIS, or;
Identity cards for registered persons under the NHIS shall be in place for all staff (issued by NHIA).

MARK AS DONE

Risk : Personal safety and protective equipment are not provided to or used by workers

Mitigation Option : Verify Records from the timber operator to demonstrate that all employees are registere

Records from the timber operator to demonstrate that all employees are registered under the NHIS

MARK AS DONE

Risk : Personal safety and protective equipment are not provided to or used by workers

Identity cards for registered persons under the NHIS

Source Types:Natural forestPlantation in forest reservesPlantation off-forest reserveSubmerged forest

Mitigation Option : Verify Identity cards for registered persons under the NHIS

Identity cards should be issues by NHIA

MARK AS DONE

Risk : Personal safety and protective equipment are not provided to or used by workers

Mitigation Option : Verify Identity cards for registered persons under the NHIS

Identity cards should be issues by NHIA

MARK AS DONE

Risk : Personal safety and protective equipment are not provided to or used by workers

Records on compensations

Source Types:Natural forestPlantation in forest reservesPlantation off-forest reserveSubmerged forest

Mitigation Option : Verify Records on compensations

Records on compensations should be available to demonstrate that the worker compensation law is consistently implemented in events of accident, death or injury of an employee arising from work.

MARK AS DONE

Risk : Personal safety and protective equipment are not provided to or used by workers

Mitigation Option : Verify Records on compensations

Records on compensations should be available to demonstrate that the worker compensation law is consistently implemented in events of accident, death or injury of an employee arising from work.

MARK AS DONE

Risk : Personal safety and protective equipment are not provided to or used by workers

Training records

Source Types:Natural forestPlantation in forest reservesPlantation off-forest reserveSubmerged forest

Mitigation Option : Verify Training records

Training records must be available and demonstrate that adequate health and safety training, consistent with the risk associated with their responsibilities, have has been given to employees and contractors consistent with the risk associated with their responsibilities.

MARK AS DONE

Risk : Personal safety and protective equipment are not provided to or used by workers

Mitigation Option : Verify Training records

MARK AS DONE

Risk : Personal safety and protective equipment are not provided to or used by workers

Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA)

Source Types:Natural forestPlantation in forest reservesPlantation off-forest reserveSubmerged forest

Mitigation Option : Verify Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA)

Verify that the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) is signed between the employer and the local workers' union). The CBA specifies the condition of employment (including employer and employee responsibilities, wages, and leave) and serves as the basis of employer-employee relations. Employees' contract and condition of service should be consistent with the regulations of the CBA.

MARK AS DONE

Risk : When a union is in place there is a risk that collective bargaining agreements are not in place, or that the terms of the collective bargaining agreements are not met by companies

Mitigation Option : Verify Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA)

• Verify that the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) is signed between the employer and the local workers' union). The CBA specifies the condition of employment (including employer and employee responsibilities, wages, and leave) and serves as the basis of employer-employee relations. Employees' contract and condition of service should be consistent with the regulations of the CBA.

MARK AS DONE

Risk : When a union is in place there is a risk that collective bargaining agreements are not in place, or that the terms of the collective bargaining agreements are not met by companies

Employment contracts

Source Types:Natural forestPlantation in forest reservesPlantation off-forest reserveSubmerged forest

Mitigation Option : Verify Employment contracts

Verify that timber operators have formal employment contracts for their employees and/or contractors. Verify that timber operators maintain records which demonstrate that casual workers, who have worked for more than 6 months continuously, are made permanent staff and provided with a formal contract.

MARK AS DONE

Risk : Workers do not have contracts and obligatory insurance

Mitigation Option : Verify Employment contracts

MARK AS DONE

Risk : Workers do not have contracts and obligatory insurance

Evidence of application for transferring of lease from the Forest Entity

Source Types:Natural forest

Mitigation Option : Verify Evidence of application for transferring of lease from the Forest Entity

MARK AS DONE

Risk : Risk that concession leases are not converted to Timber Utilisation Contract (TUCs)

Records of payment of SSNIT contributions made by the employer

Source Types:Natural forestPlantation in forest reservesPlantation off-forest reserveSubmerged forest

Mitigation Option : Verify Records of payment of SSNIT contributions made by the employer

Verify that permanent employees are registered with the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) and given social security numbers.

MARK AS DONE

Risk : Workers do not have contracts and obligatory insurance

Mitigation Option : Verify Records of payment of SSNIT contributions made by the employer

Verify that permanent employees are registered with the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) and given social security numbers.

MARK AS DONE

Risk : Workers do not have contracts and obligatory insurance

Forestry Commission's website

Source Types:Natural forest

Mitigation Option : Verify Forestry Commission's website

Check the Forestry Commission's website for list of TUC Holders in Ghana to verify if the FME has a valid TUC : https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1lsn8DsUclq8F5xyVlqA-8tBfvkPxluSnCeyWwor0I_E/edit?pref=2&pli=1#gid=0

MARK AS DONE

Risk : Risk that concession leases are not converted to Timber Utilisation Contract (TUCs)

Receipts of payments issued by SSNIT

Source Types:Natural forestPlantation in forest reservesPlantation off-forest reserveSubmerged forest

Mitigation Option : Verify Receipts of payments issued by SSNIT

Verify that permanent employees are registered with the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) and given social security numbers.

MARK AS DONE

Risk : Workers do not have contracts and obligatory insurance

Mitigation Option : Verify Receipts of payments issued by SSNIT

Verify that permanent employees are registered with the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) and given social security numbers.

MARK AS DONE

Risk : Workers do not have contracts and obligatory insurance

Payment receipts

Source Types:Natural forestPlantation in forest reservesPlantation off-forest reserveSubmerged forest

Mitigation Option : Verify Payment receipts

Payment receipts which show that employers have made pension contribution payment to the appropriate scheme organisations.

MARK AS DONE

Risk : Risk that pensions contribution payment (tier 1 contributions and tier 2 deduction payments) are not paid by the employer

Mitigation Option : Verify Payment receipts

Payment receipts which show that employers have made pension contribution payment to the appropriate scheme organisations.

MARK AS DONE

Risk : Risk that pensions contribution payment (tier 1 contributions and tier 2 deduction payments) are not paid by the employer

Log measurement and conveyance certificate (LMCC)

Source Types:Natural forestPlantation in forest reservesPlantation off-forest reserveSubmerged forest

Mitigation Option : Verify Log measurement and conveyance certificate (LMCC)

MARK AS DONE

Risk : Transport of logs for the domestic market takes place without Log Measurements Conveyance Certificate (LMCCs)

TIDD input output statement

Source Types:Natural forestPlantation in forest reservesPlantation off-forest reserveSubmerged forest

Mitigation Option : Verify TIDD input output statement

Check to justify the volume being sold

MARK AS DONE

Risk : Transport of logs for the domestic market takes place without Log Measurements Conveyance Certificate (LMCCs)

TIDD approved contract

Source Types:Natural forest

Mitigation Option : Verify TIDD approved contract

A TIDD approved contract covering products produced from all species (including CITES species) to be shipped is required.

MARK AS DONE

Risk : CITES species are illegally harvested and exported with a CITES permit fraudulently issued

TIDD export Permit

Source Types:Natural forest

Mitigation Option : Verify TIDD export Permit

MARK AS DONE

Risk : CITES species are illegally harvested and exported with a CITES permit fraudulently issued

CITES export permit

Source Types:Natural forest

Mitigation Option : Verify CITES export permit

CITES export permit approved by the Wildlife Department of the FC.

MARK AS DONE

Risk : CITES species are illegally harvested and exported with a CITES permit fraudulently issued

Business registration certificate

Source Types:Natural forestPlantation in forest reservesPlantation off-forest reserveSubmerged forest

Mitigation Option : Verify Business registration certificate

MARK AS DONE

Risk : Companies operate without legal registration of business

Environmental permit

Source Types:Natural forestPlantation in forest reservesPlantation off-forest reserveSubmerged forest

Mitigation Option : Verify Environmental permit

Verify that an Environmental permit from EPA is in place.

MARK AS DONE

Risk : Processing entities do not have a valid operating environmental permit obtained from the EPA

Valid TIDD Registration Certificate

Source Types:Natural forestPlantation in forest reservesPlantation off-forest reserveSubmerged forest

Mitigation Option : Verify Valid TIDD Registration Certificate

Verify that timber processing entity, especially small-scale, has a Valid TIDD Registration Certificate

MARK AS DONE

Risk : Timber processing entities are not registered with the TIDD

Stakeholder consultation

Stakeholder consultations can vary significantly in scope. It can range from consultation with indigenous peoples and local communities to have a single question raised with authorities in the sourcing country. The first step in any public consultation is to identify the relevant stakeholders. This requires first-hand knowledge of the communities and languages spoken. Always document the undertaking of a consultation process for future reference.

Risk mitigation options

Timber Validation Division of the Forestry Commission

Source Types:Natural forest

Mitigation Option : Consult Timber Validation Division of the Forestry Commission

Consult with Timber Validation Division of the Forestry Commission on the status of TUC application

MARK AS DONE

Risk : Risk that concession leases are not converted to Timber Utilisation Contract (TUCs)

Wildlife Division of the Forest Commission

Source Types:Natural forestPlantation in forest reservesPlantation off-forest reserveSubmerged forest

Mitigation Option : Consult the Wildlife Division of the Forest Commission

Verify that the CITES permit has been legally issued.

MARK AS DONE

Risk : CITES species are illegally harvested and exported with a CITES permit fraudulently issued

Field verification

Not all risks can be mitigated unless the actual harvest site and operations are visited by competent staff or consultants able to verify legal compliance of the forest operations. If an onsite verification is needed will depend on the type of risks and the risk level in the country of origin. First-hand knowledge on forest operations and language skills are required to conduct a meaningful onsite verification.

Risk mitigation options

Logging area

Source Types:Natural forestPlantation in forest reservesPlantation off-forest reserveSubmerged forest

Mitigation Option : Visit Logging area

It shall be verified that the above listed documents are available to the logger onsite.

MARK AS DONE

Risk : Protected areas are illegally harvested

Mitigation Option : Visit Logging area

Verify the following in the field:

employees are provided a safe working environment and personal protective equipment (PPE);
PPEs are not paid by workers;
PPEs are being used in the filed;
appropriate health facilities are available to employees and contractors.

MARK AS DONE

Risk : Personal safety and protective equipment are not provided to or used by workers

Mitigation Option : Visit Logging area

Verify the following in the field: o employees are provided a safe working environment and personal protective equipment (PPE). o PPEs are not paid by workers o PPEs are being used in the filed o appropriate health facilities are available to employees and contractors.

MARK AS DONE

Risk : Personal safety and protective equipment are not provided to or used by workers