Amendment of Criterion 7.8 of RSPO Management System Requirement and Guidance for Group Certification of FFB Pro

7.8.1 (M) The carbon stock of the proposed development area and major potential sources of emissions that may result directly from the development shall be identified and estimated.

7.8.2 There shall be a plan to minimise net GHG emissions which takes into account avoidance of land areas with high carbon stocks and/or sequestration options.

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The use of maps shall be expected which highlight the avoidance of peat areas and primary forests and where possible mineral soils have been selected for planting.

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Demonstrate to a third party that new plantings which occured after April 2013 have where possible been designed to minimise GHG emissions.

Groups will need to report confidentially to the RSPO on actions taken to mitigate GHG emissions.

After 31 December 2016 these documents will need to be publically available and linked to 1.2 &

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The Group Manager shall provide training in relation to this indicator an its relevance for individual members (e.g. peat, high carbon stocks) and record this training. 

Link to 1.2 and 7.1

A high carbon stock assessment can be linked to HCV assessments (7.3) Group Manager.

For small groups the map can be hand drawn – use description to differentiate areas e.g. Land use types.

For larger groups the use of GPS to construct adequate maps should be expected.

If the Group Manager is a mill, then mitigation strategies to reduce GHG emissions should be documented.

Have all significant aspectswhich could affect GHG emission been identified?

Check the document is updated when new members are added to the Group. Check the GHG reporting to RSPO and whether it is publically available (after 31 December 2016).

Check that training to individual members has been provided.

Assessing Individual Members
Check a selection of members to see whether they have had training and understand the relevance for their operations.