An example of a well-managed plantation - Pan-American Woods

As an example of a well-managed plantation, Pan-American Woods (PAW) pioneered the planting of teak trees in Central America in the mid-1980’s. 12,000 acres of teak were planted on degraded pasture land in the province of Guanacaste, Costa Rica. 

Natural forest corridors, rivers, and streams run through the teak farm, preserving habitat for wildlife (the harvesting of native tree species is prohibited, as is hunting and fishing). The natural forest corridors have been protected since the establishment of the teak plantation. Later, several isolated pockets of natural forest and other ecologically valuable habitats were connected by harvesting the teak trees in wide strips and then replanting seedlings of native tree species, many of which are in danger of extinction in Costa Rica. These corridors ensure that local wildlife and native flora can travel and spread throughout the plantation estate. All areas of natural forest, ecological corridors, swamps, zones on the banks of rivers/streams, as well as the rivers themselves are declared protection zones which have been mapped and inventoried for flora and fauna.

Environmental impact studies are carried out on an ongoing basis, and plantation management techniques are adjusted accordingly. For example, the results of annual flora and fauna inventories, executed by specialists, drive changes in management practices that aim to improve the quantity and quality of local flora and fauna populations and ensure their preservation or re-introduction.

Since its inception, PAW has not used chemical pesticides or herbicides, and social impact studies have demonstrated a positive impact of their forest operations on neighboring communities.

For all of these reasons, PAW has been certified well-managed according to the rules of the Forest Stewardship Council.