Futuro Forestal S.A.
Futuro Forestal S. A. is a forestry company in Panama, which was founded in 1994 by the Panamanian Iliana Armien and the German Andreas Eke. The company is based in Panama City. Futuro Forestal is considered to be the first company in the tropical forest, which offers the management of Impact Investments. The company has more than 8,000 hectares deforested pasture land with teak and indigenous tree species planted to this day, usually by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC ) standard.
History
Futuro Forestal was founded in 1994 by Andreas Eke and Iliana Armien. Since then, the family business from a small investment managers for individual customers, developed into a forestry investment management organization, and then to an impact forestry company with up to 2,500 employees. The main steps of development of the company in chronological order are:
Services
Futuro Forestal offers sustainable forestry services. This includes the management of forestry investments, the restoration of ecosystems, the implementation of Corporate Social Responsibility ( Abbr: CSR ) projects and social services such as the environmental education of the local population.
Forest Investments
Futuro Forestal developed from the outset plantations and reforestation, in cases where native tree species such as Amarillo ( Amazonia terminalia ), Cocobolo ( Dalbergia retusa ) and Zapatero ( Hieronyma alchorneoides ) planted after soil-specific events. This philosophy has also been used for the plantations of exotic teak trees. The consideration of the specifics of soil leads to an improvement of soil quality and creates differentiated habitats for native animals as pure monocultures. In the afforestation of Futuro Forestal, a high percentage is reported as an environmental reserve. At the same time, the company was the first in Panama, the CO2 emission from afforestation sold (see Montagnini, 2005, p.181).
Restoration of ecosystems
The aim of the restoration of ecosystems damaged ecosystems it is due to a stable, healthy and sustainable state. Futuro Forestal leads compensation measures on more than 7,000 acres for restoration of ecosystems for Minera Panama.
Execution of CSR projects
The focus of the implementation of corporate social responsibility projects is the ecological benefits and the positive impact on the local population. Together with Schwarzkopf Henkel developed Futuro Forestal a CSR project for afforestation of annually 70 acres of tropical forest.
Training
Futuro Forestal launched together with the Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development in Nicaragua a program for environmental education in communities that depend on the forest. For children teaching materials are developed in primary schools. Adults get theoretical knowledge of agroforestry, as sheep having Pelibüeys and beekeeping. Practical knowledge is then reacted with the help of micro- loans to local sheep and beehives.
Scientific Cooperation
Futuro Forestal is actively involved in PRORENA project. The project was supported by the School of Forestry and Environmental Studies, Yale University (English: Yale School of Forestry & Environmental Studies ) and the Smithsonian Institute of Tropical Research (English: Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute) in 2001 for research into indigenous tree species for forestry scientific and practical applications established in the tropics. The research results are implemented in the reforestation of Futuro Forestal.
Subsidiaries
- Forest & Community Foundation