Jakarta- Following last week\u2019s strong pro-peatlands and forests commitment by new Indonesian President Joko \u201cJokowi\u201d Widodo, two of the world\u2019s largest palm oil producers and traders have announced policies to address criticism of deforestation in their supply chains. However, where Musim Mas commits to immediately protect High Carbon Stock forests, Kuala Lumpur Kepong (KLK) does not define exactly what it will protect.<\/p>\n
The High Carbon Stock Approach is a tested tool that identifies degraded areas suitable for plantation development and forest areas that merit protection to maintain and enhance carbon, biodiversity and social values. It is being overseen and further refined by the multi-stakeholder High Carbon Stock Approach Steering Group, which involves international NGOs including Greenpeace as well as palm oil producers Cargill, Agropalma, Wilmar, New Britain Palm Oil, Daabon and Golden Agri Resources and pulp and paper company Asia Pulp & Paper.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhile Musim Mas will use the leading methodology to break the link between palm oil and deforestation, KLK fails to identify what forests the company plans to protect,\u201d said Greenpeace Indonesia forest campaigner Annisa Rahmawati. \u201cWithout a clear definition of forests, it is hard for us to believe that the company is serious about its commitments.\u201d<\/p>\n
Both Musim Mas and KLK are part of the Malaysia-based Sustainable Palm Oil Manifesto (SPOM), an industry initiative that has commissioned further carbon study. In their new policies the companies say they will adopt the outcomes of that study after 2015. Where the HCS Approach has explicitly been developed to implement commitments to break the link between palm oil and deforestation, the objective of the SPOM appears to rather be balancing GHG emissions and socioeconomic aspects.\u00a0 Greenpeace and other leading NGOs do not support the SPOM as it falls short of new benchmarks for responsible palm oil production and trade, and is not a multi-stakeholder driven initiative. However, the HCS Approach Steering Group has stated an openness to any new credible science and will consider recommendations from the SPOM study.<\/p>\n
\u201cWith deforestation rates rising in Indonesia, KLK and Musim Mas need get their priorities right. We urge these companies to make a long-term commitment to the best tools available, in particular the HCS Approach, to break the link between palm oil and deforestation. They also need to require their third party suppliers to do the same,\u201d Annisa said.<\/p>\n
KLK\u2019s and Musim Mas\u2019 announcements come days after a visit by President Jokowi to the coastal peatlands of Riau. The President announced his Minister for Environment and Forestry is reviewing plantation concessions, and will revoke the permissions of those that have damaged ecosystems. Greenpeace supports Jokowi\u2019s push for environmental law enforcement, and notes a recent case with a director and a manager of KLK subsidiary PT Adei Plantation and Industry found guilty in September of negligence over forest fires by a court in Pelalawan, Riau.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n Sol Gosetti, International Communications Coordinator, Indonesia Forest campaign,<\/p>\n
\nMedia Contacts:
\n<\/strong>Annisa Rahmawati, Forest Campaigner, Greenpeace Indonesia
\nE:\u00a0annisa.rahmawati@greenpeace.org<\/a>, M: +62 8111097527<\/p>\n