{"id":43721,"date":"2020-07-15T09:02:50","date_gmt":"2020-07-15T02:02:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/southeastasia\/?p=43721"},"modified":"2024-05-29T12:30:21","modified_gmt":"2024-05-29T05:30:21","slug":"greenpeace-finds-asia-pulp-and-paper-guilty-of-peatland-clearance-and-fuelling-forest-fires-in-indonesia","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/southeastasia\/press\/43721\/greenpeace-finds-asia-pulp-and-paper-guilty-of-peatland-clearance-and-fuelling-forest-fires-in-indonesia\/","title":{"rendered":"Greenpeace finds Asia Pulp and Paper guilty of peatland clearance and fuelling forest fires in Indonesia"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Jakarta\u2014 <\/strong>As the fire season looms in Indonesia, Greenpeace Southeast Asia revealed that Asia Pulp & Paper (APP), one of the world\u2019s largest pulp and paper company, owned by the Sinar Mas Group, has been actively clearing Sumatran peatland for pulpwood plantations in direct breach of its own commitments<\/a> to preserve and restore carbon-rich ecosystems and reduce emissions<\/a>. Major brands such as Unilever, Nestl\u00e9, Askul and Woolworths are still supplied by APP, which today, is gathering its stakeholders in a forum focused on sustainability.<\/a><\/p>\n\n

Using recent analysis of satellite imagery<\/a>, Greenpeace has proved that between August 2018 and June 2020, around 3,500 ha of peatland was destroyed in three concessions either owned or that are major suppliers to APP and 50 hectares burned in late June on one of these concessions<\/a>. The data also shows that in the same period, approximately 53 km of drainage canals were dug, despite commitments made by the company in 2013 to end its role in deforestation and introduce new conservation and\u00a0 peatland protection pledges\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n\n

\u201cPlantation companies are legally responsible for any fires on their land, yet APP flouts the law and evades justice, escaping with little more than a slap on the wrist. They backtrack on their commitments to protect and restore the ecosystems they have destroyed. This makes a mockery of their attempts to talk about sustainability approaches with their stakeholders. No company that claims to care about the environment can continue to trade with APP\u201d, said Kiki Taufik, Global Head of the Indonesia forests campaign at Greenpeace Southeast Asia.

Canals like the ones found on APP\u2019s concessions are cut through the peat to drain and dry it in preparation for growing pulpwood plantations. But when the vegetation on the land is cleared by burning, the dry peatland can ignite and burn for months, causing a poisonous haze that blankets surrounding areas and has been driving an annual health crisis across the region<\/a>  <\/p>\n\n

\u201cThe most feared time of the year for all Indonesians is just starting and while we worry about our children\u2019s health and hope for a mild dry season, APP is enabling fires to clear land.  Companies sourcing from them are supporting forest destruction and fuelling the annual toxic haze that sickens millions across the region,\u201dsaid Taufik. <\/p>\n\n

APP\u2019s track record on the environment, people and climate<\/strong><\/p>\n\n