Conflict-sensitive business practice: guidance for commercial reforestation in Colombia
This manual is an adapted version of the Conflict-Sensitive Business Practice (CSBP) toolbox which applies the CSBP methodology to the Colombian reforestation sector in Colombia. The manual discusses the national information related to planted forests as well as conflict management and resolution. It aims to help develop reforestation companies' capacity to understand the complexity of violent conflicts, analyse the impact on company operations as well as the impact of their activities on the conflict, and implement mitigation and preventative measures so as to contribute to peace-building. The manual draws on the results of interviews with the representatives of reforestation companies, government officials, NGOs, think tanks and multilateral organisations related to this field.
The manual highlights a number of characteristics in Colombia’s commercial reforestation
sector, which justify the existence of this CSBP-R toolbox and its application by businesses in Colombia:
- the present location of forest plantations in conflict zones and the presence of soils suitable for future plantations in those areas
- greater generation of rural employment by commercial reforestation compared to alternative activities, such as cattle ranching
- potential environmental benefits when plantations are planned and managed with sustainable practices
- long-term presence of reforestation companies in rural areas
The manual covers the following tools and processes to ensure conflict-sensitive business practices:
operational guidance charts:
- Macro-level Conflict Risk and Impact Assessment tool (M-CRIA)
- Project-level Conflict Risk and Impact Assessment tool (P-CRIA)
- flashpoint issues including: access to land, social investment, environmental sustainability of commercial forestry plantations and outsourcing
