An international forestry fund committed to a set of international environmental, social and governance (ESG) standards has identified a brownfield investment opportunity in Ecuador. The potential investment encompasses a teak plantation of about 1,000 hectares. Unique was commissioned to assist the fund with the decision-making on the investment and assess the potential investee’s environmental and social performance and associated risks. The task included the assessment of the potential investee’s compliance with national law, no-goes vis-a-vis the fund’s standards, the formulation of an environmental and social baseline and an environmental and social management system.

• Evaluation of the potential investee’s ESG performance against IFC performance standards and national law
• Interviews with local stakeholders, assessment of company procedures, and site visits and field observations
• Evaluation of current and historical land use to assess possible land use change through satellite images
• Assessment of current biodiversity values including a list of species with conservation status