Jakarta Globe, March 13, 2013
Palm fruits at a palm oil plantation in Talun Kenas, North Sumatra. (EPA Photo/Dedi Sahputra) |
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Environmental
advocacy group Greenpeace has welcomed the launch of a forest conservation
pilot project by the world's second largest palm oil plantation company, Golden
Agri-Resources, to protect high carbon stock forests in Indonesia.
“Greenpeace
commends GAR for putting its forest conservation policy commitment into action.
GAR’s initiative is crucial for finally breaking the link between palm oil and
deforestation,” Bustar Maitar, head of Greenpeace Southeast Asia’s Indonesia
Forest Campaign, said on Wednesday.
Bustar said
Indonesia’s rainforest was in dire need of protection, especially with the
approaching expiration date of the two-year moratorium on logging permits in
May.
“The
government should see today’s announcement as a strong signal that government,
industry and civil society together can turn the tide and protect Indonesia’s
forests for the sake of the people and biodiversity that depend on them and for
the global climate,” he said.
He said
GAR’s conservation policy, which would begin with Kartika Prima Cipta in West
Kalimantan, would also be implemented in the company’s investment in Liberia
and would set a strong example for future oil palm development in Africa if
executed properly.
GAR
previously has pledged to stop procurement of unsustainable raw materials by
2015.
Separately,
the Indonesian government announced it is set to revoke the licenses of palm
oil companies in the country if they do not have an Indonesian Sustainable Palm
Oil certificate by 2014, a high-level official at the Agriculture Ministry said
on Thursday.
“Because it
is a mandatory, there will be sanctions. We could revoke the licenses of palm
oil companies that do not have the ISPO,” said Gamal Nasir, director general
for plantations at the ministry.
The
Indonesian government introduced the ISPO several years ago, setting a standard
to ensure that palm oil producers will not add to deforestation and destruction
of carbon-rich peat lands because of their activities.
JG & ID
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