13.12.2022. Last 6 December, the European Union agreed a new law that would ban the import of products linked to deforestation. INTERHOLCO's top priority is to ensure that the harvesting and transport of timber has minimal impact, with no permanent or irreversible change to the services provided by the forest.
Forest inhabitants mark trees to be protected with a 'P' in the Ngombé forest. Photo © Interholco.
INTERHOLCO harvests timber in accordance with the Precautionary Principle, i.e. only selectively and only where ecological and social impacts can be controlled so that forest management activities result in temporary and reversible changes with minimal impact.
Congo basin forests are home to hundreds of animals and trees which cannot be found elsewhere. Photo © Interholco
The concept of “Critical Habitats“ endorsed by the International Finance Corporation and the concept of "High Conservation Values“ (HCV) promoted by FSC® and the HCV Resource Network apply. Neither of these concepts exclude forest management. They make it clear that forest management measures must not endanger, compromise or irreversibly impact forest biodiversity, including flora and fauna.
A screenshot showing forest loss in the Sangha department in 2021. Photo © Global Forest Watch
Thanks to satellite monitoring conducted in near-real time by the online tool Global Forest Watch, INTERHOLCO can state that, during 2021, the Sangha department, which is home to the Ngombé forest that IHC manages responsibly in the north of the Republic of Congo, had a forest loss of 0.09%, not counting regeneration. Much in the same way, INTERHOLCO submits suppliers to 2nd or 3rd party audits.
According to FAO, the world has lost 420 million hectares of forest – an area bigger than India – since 1990, and deforestation continues at about 10 million hectares per year, due mainly to agricultural expansion. Managing forests sustainably can help reduce deforestation and degradation, restore degraded landscapes, and provide people with jobs and renewable materials.
INTERHOLCO offers Sustainable Hardwood 'Made in Africa' as a responsible solution to promote better living conditions (construction with wood), reduce climate change, and increase social justice. As FSC-certified producer specialized in producing and trading logs, sawn timber, glued laminated scantlings and other products, INTERHOLCO manages the entire chain, from forest to customers since 1962. Harvesting wood selectively, INTERHOLCO protects 1.1 million hectares of natural forest from permanent conversion to agricultural land, giving 16’000 local inhabitants access to quality basic services and keeping the habitat of thousands of gorillas and elephants.
Communications contact INTERHOLCO
Tullia Baldassarri Höger von Högersthal
INTERHOLCO AG, Neuhofstr. 25, 6340 Baar, Switzerland
Tel.: +41 (0)41 767 03 82
E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.