Portucel and Mozambican civil society today launch advisory council for forestry project monitoring

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Portucel and Mozambican civil society today launch advisory council for forestry project monitoring

11:28 CAT | 05 Dec 2017

portucelmocambique.com (File photo)

Portucel and Mozambican civil society organisations are today launching the Portucel Advisory Council (CCP) in Maputo, a platform that will monitor a forestry project by the Portuguese company which will produce paper and energy in central Mozambique.

A press release said that the Mozambican government and five civil society organisations will join the advisory council.

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“The CCP expects to see recommendations arising from the participation of local communities in the project, the company’s social provision for community development, the promotion of better cultural habits, the protection of human rights and local communities and environmental best practices,” the statement reads.

Another goal is the development of recommendations for the management of tripartite sustainable development partnerships between communities, government, private sector and the legislature.

“The CPP wants to see a model of monitoring and advice developed and promoted which is replicable across other sectors, projects and similar activities,” the press release notes.

The CPP follows the creation of Portucel Mozambique in 2009, to which the government granted land use rights covering 356,000 hectares in the province of Zambézia, central Mozambique, for afforestation of two thirds of the land for the production of pulp and energy.

“Various civil society organisations suggested the creation of a platform to monitor and advise the company and the Government on the impact of the company’s operations in the social, cultural, environmental and human rights spheres on the communities in the areas covered by the project,” the note reads.

The statement says that the proposal was accepted by the government and supported by Portucel, culminating in the creation of the CCP, which will be launched today.

Source: Lusa