Palm fruits at a palm oil plantation in Talun Kenas” North Sumatra. (EPA Photo/Dedi Sahputra)   

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