Presenting a compelling case for balancing commodity production with forest conservation, sustainable livelihoods and the welfare of people at scale.
Riau is a crucial province for agricultural commodity production: approximately 2.5 million ha of oil palm and 2 million ha of pulp & paper. Indonesia is the world's largest producer of palm oil, and its smallholder oil palm plantations involve more than 2.3 million farmers. Riau is the largest palm-oil-producing province in Indonesia, and yet roughly 80% of the agricultural workforce is informal. Over 1.6 million smallholder farmers face challenges related to low productivity, poor seed stock, income volatility, and food insecurity. There are ongoing efforts from many actors to improve their practices (FoKSBI, SPKS, RSPO).
Protected areas – such as nature reserves and national parks – remain under threat from continued exploitation by the palm oil and paper industries as well as smallholders and communities seeking to make a living. Whilst there are several commitments and efforts carried out by local governments, supported by central governments, nevertheless, complexity in the region warrants contribution and collaboration from various actors, including the work Earthworm Foundation does in the landscape.
2 Collective-Action Plans (CAPs) were approved in 2022 by district governments, NGOs, companies, villages, and educational institutions. These CAPs oversee about 75,863 Ha of forest and map smallholder plantations in forest zones.
9,668 ha of forest areas protected outside concession- That’s 16% of our 2025 outcomes.
914 farmers adopt Good Agricultural and Best Management Practices, 642 ha replanted by 321 farmers. 11,662 workers were indirectly impacted through direct work with 16 companies. 3 at-risk communities have developed effective conflict resolution systems
Civil society
Engaging local actors, providing capacity building and training and facilitating multi-stakeholder collaboration.
Government
Providing the human resources and operational framework to support the protection of forests and protected areas.
The private sector
Implementing NDPE commitments in their supply chains & participating in landscape-level transformation activities.
Associated Funders
Contributor
Field Partners
Donor:
Riau is one of the key ecosystems where Earthworm Foundation works through its landscapes approach.
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