Sweetgum balsam: from the community forest to the ICF dossier

Sweetgum balsam is the resin tapped from the trunk of the sweetgum tree, bought by the fragrance and pharmaceutical industries, among others. For the organizations that harvest it, the value isn't only in the product. It lies in being able to prove where it comes from and that the forest is managed with the right permits.

Who we work with

We support AGROECA, APAEN, APANEO and APARFSS, grassroots organizations that manage community forest with sweetgum.

What we deliver

• Technical progress report: where each organization's forest management stands, with the field evidence behind it.
• Action plan: measures the board can carry out with its own resources and a third party can verify.
• Dossiers for the ICF: complete, in order and ready for review.
• SIGAROMA: custom software that keeps the chain's records, documents and traceability in order, from plot to buyer.

Why a dossier and not just a report

A report tells what was done; a dossier lets you check it. When the ICF or a buyer reviews it, they need to follow every claim back to its source: who collected the data, when, with which instrument and with what margin of error. That's why every delivery carries its sources, not just its conclusions.

An action plan is only useful if the organization can carry it out and an outsider can verify it.

Written byRuben AlmendaresIT