As of January 2019, TFT has become Earthworm Foundation.

Golden Agri-Resources Ltd (GAR) together with its subsidiary PT SMART Tbk (SMART) today announce that they will implement a pilot project in PT Kartika Prima Cipta (KPC), West Kalimantan, Indonesia on High Carbon Stock (HCS) forest conservation to ensure a no deforestation footprint. This pilot follows from the publication of a High Carbon Stock Forest Study Report (the Report) by GAR and SMART in collaboration with global non-profit The Forest Trust (TFT) and Greenpeace (together, the Team) on 4 June 2012. The Report is a result of extensive fieldwork conducted under GAR’s Forest Conservation Policy (FCP).

The FCP, launched on 9 February 2011, builds on GAR’s earlier sustainability efforts. The FCP focuses on no development on land containing HCS forests, High Conservation Values (HCV) and peat lands; respect for indigenous and local communities and compliance with all relevant laws and regulations as well as internationally accepted certification principles and criteria. The FCP applies to all the plantations that GAR owns, manages or invests in regardless of the stake.

Following the launch of the FCP, the Team conducted fieldwork in West and Central Kalimantan as part of the HCS forest study to develop a practical, scientifically robust and cost effective methodology to define and identify HCS areas for conservation. The study categorised areas into different strata based on measurements of carbon in the above ground biomass.

The study found that six strata could be identified and these correlated with different average carbon stocks.
These are:

• High Density Forest (HK3) – Remnant forest or advanced secondary forest close to primary condition
• Medium Density Forest (HK2) – Remnant forest but more disturbed than High Density Forest
• Low Density Forest (HK1) – Appears to be remnant forest but highly disturbed and recovering (may contain plantation/mixed garden)
• Old Scrub (BT) – Mostly young regrowth forest, but with occasional patches of older forest within the stratum
• Young Scrub (BM) – Recently cleared areas, some woody regrowth and grass-like ground cover
• Cleared/Open Land (LT) – Very recently cleared land with mostly grass or crops, few woody plants

Since the publication of the Report, the Team has been holding wider discussions with various stakeholders to gather feedback on the study and the outcomes. Feedback from meetings with representatives from the Government of Indonesia, including the Bupati (District Head) and local leaders, has been open and constructive. Furthermore, an HCS Methodology Focus Group Discussion was held on 17 July 2012 in Bogor, Indonesia.

Experts attended the meeting from local academia, government, trade organisations, TFT, Greenpeace, SMART and GAR. The meeting concluded that overall, the HCS methodology detailed in the Report is scientifically acceptable, and a number of recommendations for improvement were made. For the purpose of the pilot, the Team defines HCS as comprising BT, HK1, HK2 and HK3 areas. The implementation of the HCS approach will depend on the result of the pilot and after consultations with stakeholders. Besides PT KPC, GAR is conserving HCS forests in seven other concessions with new plantings in West and Central Kalimantan. HCS areas work out to be about 19,000 hectares, or 15% of total concession area in these eight concessions.

However, there are challenges such as the current legal framework for successful HCS conservation. GAR begins the pilot process at PT KPC to address these challenges. The purpose of the pilot is to establish a framework for successful HCS conservation by the broader palm oil industry.

To be successful in HCS conservation, the Team needs to engage with other stakeholders to find solutions to the existing challenges. The pilot will act as a catalyst to foster further multi-stakeholder dialogue on solutions to conserve HCS forests. During the pilot, the Team will continue to engage with the Government of Indonesia, civil society organisations, local and indigenous communities, key growers and other stakeholders in the Indonesian palm oil industry.

Under this multi-stakeholder engagement process, all parties (Government of Indonesia, civil society organisations, local and indigenous communities, key growers and others) need to identify HCS areas, develop an enabling legal framework for HCS conservation, and implement measures to conserve HCS. The roles of the stakeholders in ensuring successful HCS forest conservation are elaborated in the attached PowerPoint presentation, “HCS Forest Conservation Pilot Project” dated 13 March 2013.

The pilot is expected to take 12 months. During the pilot, GAR will ensure that it fulfils its plasma commitments according to the government laws and regulations. The company will also continue its compensation process for land owned by the community. Daud Dharsono, President Director of SMART said: “It is vital that all stakeholders work together to find solutions for sustainable palm oil production. By embarking on the pilot, the Team comprising GAR, SMART, TFT and Greenpeace hopes to create a platform for all stakeholders to work together to enable HCS conservation, which will drive the long-term sustainable growth of the Indonesian palm oil industry.”

Scott Poynton, Executive Director of TFT said: “GAR deserves credit for leading this multi-stakeholder engagement process to ensure no deforestation palm oil. The global market is increasingly demanding no deforestation palm oil. Only those companies who deal with the HCS issue will be able to meet this demand. This is a challenge not only for Indonesia but for the entire global palm oil industry.”

As a leading palm oil player in Indonesia, GAR hopes to continue leading the industry in finding concrete solutions for sustainable palm oil production to meet the rising demands of the commodity and at the same time, ensure the long-term sustainable growth of the industry. GAR is committed to adopting the best industry practices and standards, managing the environment responsibly and empowering the communities where it operates, while maximising long-term shareholder value.

GAR High Carbon Stock Forest Study Report

More information about the pilot in English

More information about the pilot in Bahasa