BUSINESS
JAKARTA (FORESTHINTS.NEWS) - The extent of areas of good forest cover in three palm oil concessions in Aceh, one of Indonesia’s forested provinces, remains relatively consistent. These areas are home to various flagship species.
As of early July 2020, the size of the peat forests stretching across the Tripa peat swamp landscape was still equivalent to around five thousand football fields. These forests are in two palm oil concessions (PT Kallista Alam and PT SPS-2) located in the Leuser Ecosystem on Aceh's west coast.
The remaining peat forests in these two palm oil concessions - most notably home to Sumatran orangutans and tigers - prove that the law enforcement actions taken by Indonesian Environment and Forestry Minister Siti Nurbaya continue to be effective, as previously reported by FORESTHINTS.NEWS in late January this year.
Our satellite monitoring using time-series based data, which can be verified by relevant stakeholders, demonstrates the good level of consistency in the two palm oil concessions in terms of maintaining the peat forests as of early July this year, a situation represented in the following photos from last year.
The situation in these two palm oil concessions is aligned with President Joko Widodo's order for a moratorium on palm oil expansion in areas with good forest cover.
Furthermore, the impressive consistency shown in the two palm oil concessions reflects the efforts to clean up the palm oil industry from deforestation and peat destruction.
This level of consistency is expected to remain stable in the long run as it very beneficial for the protection of parts of the Leuser Ecosystem.
Another case outside the Leuser Ecosystem
As reported last year in two news stories by FORESTHINTS.NEWS, based on satellite data and a field-based check respectively, another palm oil concession (PT TPP) covering the equivalent of nearly five thousand soccer fields has also displayed consistency in protecting areas of good forest cover.
This concession, which lies outside the Leuser Ecosystem, forms part of the Sumatran elephant and tiger's habitat. Around 40% of the concession is composed of areas with good forest cover, while another 30%, which does not have good forest cover, is to be restored in line with the company’s promise.
The roughly 70% of the concession area made up of these two land cover types, exceeding Brussels in size, will not be developed into new palm oil plantations, according to a commitment from the parent company, the Astra group.
As previously explained by the company to FORESTHINTS.NEWS in mid-August last year, in order to achieve the objective of protecting the habitat of key species, the company, among other things, is continuing to collaborate with the ministry's conservation authority at the provincial office.
As of early July this year, our satellite monitoring, which can also be traced by relevant stakeholders, indicates the palm oil company's consistency in maintaining about 40% of the concession with areas of good forest cover, as depicted in the photos below from last year.
The consistency shown by this palm oil company is of course very much in keeping with President Widodo's palm oil expansion moratorium order, and is proof of the success of efforts to clean up palm oil supply chains from deforestation.
Ensuring long-term consistency
There is ample evidence that the three concessions discussed above are still widely inhabited by flagship species and we certainly hope that the companies concerned will continue to be consistent in protecting these species.
To this end, relevant stakeholders need to carry out consistent rigorous monitoring to ensure that the palm oil companies adhere to their commitments and fulfill their legal compliance.
These efforts are indispensable as part of the implementation of President Widodo's palm oil expansion moratorium order in areas that retain good forest cover, while in parallel also serving to clean up palm oil sector supply chains from deforestation and peat drainage practices.
RELATED STORIES
BUSINESS
JAKARTA (FORESTHINTS.NEWS) - The extent of areas of good forest cover in three palm oil concessions in Aceh, one of Indonesia’s forested provinces, remains relatively consistent. These areas are home to various flagship species.
As of early July 2020, the size of the peat forests stretching across the Tripa peat swamp landscape was still equivalent to around five thousand football fields. These forests are in two palm oil concessions (PT Kallista Alam and PT SPS-2) located in the Leuser Ecosystem on Aceh's west coast.
The remaining peat forests in these two palm oil concessions - most notably home to Sumatran orangutans and tigers - prove that the law enforcement actions taken by Indonesian Environment and Forestry Minister Siti Nurbaya continue to be effective, as previously reported by FORESTHINTS.NEWS in late January this year.
Our satellite monitoring using time-series based data, which can be verified by relevant stakeholders, demonstrates the good level of consistency in the two palm oil concessions in terms of maintaining the peat forests as of early July this year, a situation represented in the following photos from last year.
The situation in these two palm oil concessions is aligned with President Joko Widodo's order for a moratorium on palm oil expansion in areas with good forest cover.
Furthermore, the impressive consistency shown in the two palm oil concessions reflects the efforts to clean up the palm oil industry from deforestation and peat destruction.
This level of consistency is expected to remain stable in the long run as it very beneficial for the protection of parts of the Leuser Ecosystem.
Another case outside the Leuser Ecosystem
As reported last year in two news stories by FORESTHINTS.NEWS, based on satellite data and a field-based check respectively, another palm oil concession (PT TPP) covering the equivalent of nearly five thousand soccer fields has also displayed consistency in protecting areas of good forest cover.
This concession, which lies outside the Leuser Ecosystem, forms part of the Sumatran elephant and tiger's habitat. Around 40% of the concession is composed of areas with good forest cover, while another 30%, which does not have good forest cover, is to be restored in line with the company’s promise.
The roughly 70% of the concession area made up of these two land cover types, exceeding Brussels in size, will not be developed into new palm oil plantations, according to a commitment from the parent company, the Astra group.
As previously explained by the company to FORESTHINTS.NEWS in mid-August last year, in order to achieve the objective of protecting the habitat of key species, the company, among other things, is continuing to collaborate with the ministry's conservation authority at the provincial office.
As of early July this year, our satellite monitoring, which can also be traced by relevant stakeholders, indicates the palm oil company's consistency in maintaining about 40% of the concession with areas of good forest cover, as depicted in the photos below from last year.
The consistency shown by this palm oil company is of course very much in keeping with President Widodo's palm oil expansion moratorium order, and is proof of the success of efforts to clean up palm oil supply chains from deforestation.
Ensuring long-term consistency
There is ample evidence that the three concessions discussed above are still widely inhabited by flagship species and we certainly hope that the companies concerned will continue to be consistent in protecting these species.
To this end, relevant stakeholders need to carry out consistent rigorous monitoring to ensure that the palm oil companies adhere to their commitments and fulfill their legal compliance.
These efforts are indispensable as part of the implementation of President Widodo's palm oil expansion moratorium order in areas that retain good forest cover, while in parallel also serving to clean up palm oil sector supply chains from deforestation and peat drainage practices.
RELATED STORIES