SAS: Environment Chapter

Requirements

2020 Certification Program

23th of November| CB Training| Nils de Boer & Fabián Calvo Romero

Objectives

1. Understand what are the principles behind the Environment Chapter

requirements.
2. Share the principles for verification of the Environment Chapter
requirements.

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I. Mentimeter
II Chapter 6. Environment

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What are the principles behind the chapter
1. Protection of forests, other natural ecosystems and protected areas.
2. Conservation and enhancement of natural vegetation on the farm.
3. Protection of aquatic ecosystems (riparian buffers, water extraction).
4. Protection of wildlife and biodiversity.
5. Water management and conservation.
6. Manage and reduce wastewater and wastes.
7. Energy efficiency
8. Greenhouse gas reduction
9. Support Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation

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What is expected of the auditors

• To verify that producers have not converted natural ecosystems (i.e forest)
since January 1st 2014 into other lands uses.
• To verify that producers have not to encroached into protected areas.
• To verify that producers have assessed the risks to HCV areas (High
Conservation Value Areas).
• To verify that producers progressively enhance natural vegetation on the
farm (i.e. set aside land, riparian buffers, agroforestry systems and others).
• To verify that producers maintain and/or establish riparian buffer zones.

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What is expected of the auditors

• To verify that producers have implemented measures to protect endangered

species (flora and fauna), control invasive species and minimize human-
wildlife conflicts.
• To verify that producers are managing wastes.
• To verify that producers use water for irrigation and processing purposes more
efficiently.
• To verify that producers increase energy efficiency and reduce dependence on
non-renewable energy when feasible.

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What has changed from PM programs?

DEFORESTATION
• We chose January 1st, 2014 as the cutoff date
• One single cut-off date makes the requirement clearer
• Robust data for improved data-driven assurance (deforestation risk
analysis)
• In one with market and sector commitments

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What has changed from PM programs?

CONSERVING BIODIVERSITY
• We have strengthened the approach by including a risk-based approach to
HCV areas (High Conservation Value areas).
• Key Biodiversity Areas
• Intact Forest Landscapes
• Ramsar sites
• Minimum requirement on natural vegetation (10 and 15%) flexible criteria
with different options in and out farm.

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What has changed from PM programs?
CLIMATE SMART AGRICULTURE (CSA)
• Approach is much more prominent in the RA 2020.
• Smartness comes from assessing current and future CC impacts.
• Climate Change risk assessment tool.
• GHG accounting (Cool Farm Tool)

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Relevant concepts, definitions

• Cut-off date • Wastewater management

• Protected areas • Efficient water use
• High Conservation Value • Waste management
areas (HCV’s) • Energy efficiency
• Natural vegetation cover • Greenhouse Gas Emissions
• Riparian buffers • Climate Smart Agriculture
• Agroforestry
• Human-wildlife conflicts
• Invasive species

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Annexes and guidance documents
Annex 12: Additional Details on requirement for no-conversion
• Conversion of natural ecosystems up to 1% of the total certified land area to maintain
or expand infrastructure essential for farm or processing operations may be permitted if it
is planned in advance.
Guidance 6.1 – 6.3. Natural ecosystems and vegetation
• Explanation of HCV risk assessment
• Methodologies for natural vegetation cover and agroforestry
• Estimation of riparian buffers
Guidance 6.8. Energy Efficiency
• Aspect to consider and to be included in Cool Farm Tool
Guidance 6.9. Greenhouse Gas Emissions
• Aspect to consider and to be included in Cool Farm Tool
Climate Change risk assessment tool
• Assessment of current and future impact per region and crops, and improvement
assessment. 12
Where can I find more information or support?

Deforestation Conserving Biodiversity Climate Smart Agriculture

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Q&A

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Geolocation data

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What is geolocation data and what is changed?

Location point: a geographic feature identified by

latitude/longitude coordinate pair that represents
the location of a farm. Location points should
represent the center of the farm/farm unit.

Polygon: a geographic boundary that encloses an

area representing a farm unit.

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 Why are polygons so important?

Forest layer Forest layer

TCL TCL

Polygons
Location points

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Standard requirements

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 What is expected from implementers?

1.2.12  Start with geolocation data collection here (location point or polygon)
Largest farm unit with Certified crop for farms with +1 farm units

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Farm units of a farm

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 7
One farm

7 farm units

Geodata L1 and L2

1.2.12  Start with geolocation data collection

here (location point or polygon)
Largest farm unit with Certified crop
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 What is expected from implementers?

• (CHs only) Use the Farm

Intelligence App (FIA) –
strongly encouraged
Under development!

OTHER TOOLS TOO!

E.G GARMIN

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CH
 What is expected from implementers?

• Use other apps/tools for geolocation data

collection if it is aligned with the requirements of
the standard and Guidance

Google My Maps
CB 24
 What is expected from implementers?
• Submit geolocation data to RACP
• Platform performs validations for points and
polygons
• Platform provides feedback to users about geodata
mistakes

Under development!
CB CH
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Risk maps, deforestation and
protected areas
How are geophysical risk maps made?

Risk of Encroachment into

Deforestation Risk
Protected Areas

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 GIS platform

Under development!

Deforestation risk PA risk

Location
points +
Polygons Feedback

GIS
platform

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 Certification process and risk maps

1 RACP

GIS
platform
CB CH
Geodata Quality check

FIA

Feedback Feedback
quality check quality check

Under development! 29
 Certification process and risk maps

2 RACP

GIS
platform
CB CH

Fixed mistakes Risk Analyses

FIA

Feedback risks Feedback risks

Under development! 30
 What is expected from implementers?

1
Registration
Envelope

CH

• Groups: Envelope
but, points and
polygons preferred
• Individuals/large
farms: polygons

Under development! 31
 What is expected from implementers?

1 2 3 4
Internal inspections Audit Audit
Registration and Management plan
preparation preparation

CH CH CH CB
• Identify risky
• Smallholder members and • Smallholder
Groups: Envelope evaluate in
Groups: points and • Checks geodata
but, points and internal
polygons and risk maps
polygons preferred inspections • Individuals/large • Chooses risk
• Individuals/large • Implement risk
farms: polygons based sample
farms: polygons mitigation
measures

Under development! 32
 What is expected from implementers?

5 6 7
License License
Audit
request request

CB CB

• • Groups:
Verify quality
points of
and •• Groups: points and • Groups: points and
geodata Submit updated
polygons polygons • polygons
Review data
geolocation data
• • Individuals/large
Verify risks •• Individuals/large •• Individuals/large
Certification
• farms:
Collectpolygons
evidence Submit requested
farms: polygons
evidence decisionpolygons
farms:
• NCs

Under development! 33
Field evaluation Deforestation

- Signs on deforestation (Cut-off stems)

- Bordering a forest and trees on edge grow fresh branches
- Younger stems
- Age of crops
For high risk:
- Proof / evidence against recent deforestation.
Farm inside forest
Identify the situation

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Field evaluation Protected area

In PA
- Delineation of PA
- Condition in Go - area

For high risk:

Proof against location in no-go PA

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 If risks are confirmed

Internal Audit Corrective actions

inspections

CH CB CH

• Raise NC • Prioritize polygons of

• Groups: Remove • Extrapolate sample to producers close to
group members group based on risk risky areas
• Individuals/large maps • Additional
farms: decide • Follow auditing rules training/awareness
whether minor case for certification raising and
decision agroforestry

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Certification decision

For small farm group members:

- if very few cases (<1%) can be closed
- if many cases (>5%) de/non-certification
- in between: exclusion of members scenario 1 scenario 2 scenario 3

-> % based on extrapolation of NCs (% of NCs among risk members in sample,

% of all risky members)

For large farm:

- if <1%/10ha can be closed with compensation plan etc.
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For group audits: extrapolation based on sample

1) All confirmed cases are NC

2) NC >= risky members: extrapolate all risky members are NC
3) NC < risky members: extrapolate % of all risky members

All 4 NC, plus 1

more -> extrapolate
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All 4 NC->
extrapolate 20

20 risky members, 4 2 NC-> extrapolate

in audit sample 50 % 10
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Certification decision (groups)
Based on extrapolation;
Scenario 1 (for both 6.1.1/6.1.2): severe NC, de/non-certification: >5% of
member farms NC, total converted area is >10ha
Scenario 2: NC, members excluded with corrective actions:
• For 6.1.1: more than 1% but less than 5% of member farms
• For 6.1.2: less than 5% of member farms
Scenario 3 (for 6.1.1): minor NC members retained with corrective actions if
<1% of members

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scenario 1 scenario 2 scenario 3
Certification decision (large farms)

Scenario 1 (for both 6.1.1/6.1.2): severe NC, de/non-certification

Scenario 2 (for 6.1.1): minor NC, if converted area is <1% and 10ha, with:
• Polygon of converted and total farm area
• Restoration plan

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Questions for Clarification?

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III Group exercise
Please have a look at the case shared with you and discuss
the questions within your group. There are two cases and you
have 30 minutes in total to come to some brief findings that
you can present in plenary.
Exercise: using risk maps

second risk map and audit plan

You have been asked to prepare and conduct an audit of a cocoa group in Western Côte
d’Ivoire and received the updated GMR and risk maps. In the risk maps you can find
protected forests, in which cocoa production is not allows, and has also still some rural
forests. There has been quite a lot of evidence of recent deforestation driven by cocoa.
The groups composition is as followed:
749 group members.
213 group members are indicated as medium risk for deforestation.
2 group members are indicated as high risk for deforestation.
2 members with medium risk of encroachment to protected area.

Line out what shall be considered in the preparation & conduction of the audit and what
shall be possible corrective actions?
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Link to dashboard
https://ragis.maps.arcgis.com/apps/opsdashboard/index.html#/ab5972d42f1941f0bd797a2743d84246

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What should you do?
- Related risk to protected areas?
- Related risks to deforestation?
- Audit sample?
- Corrective actions?

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Answer Part B

Auditor should:
- Take risk-based sample: Square root 749=28; 29% risky -> visit 2 high risk
members and at least 7 medium risk
- Check deforestation in the field; for high risk, find evidence against
deforestation
- IF non-compliance among risky members: extrapolation and then decision based
on percentage
- report back to RA if inconsistency
with risk map

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IV Plenary discussion
Representatives of the different groups present findings;
other groups are welcome to comment; before answers are
presented and discussed in plenary

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