JAKARTA – Indonesia is making progress towards zero deforestation as reported by Trase, a joint initiative undertaken by Global Canopy and Stockholm Environment Institute. Based on its data, Indonesia’s deforestation for oil palm plantations had significantly decreased, with the biggest decrease being seen in the supply chain regulated through the zero-deforestation commitment.

But, the increase of palm oil price and the role of traders with lower level of public transparency commitment has threatened to weaken the achievement.

New data shows that exporters with zero-deforestation commitment have  consistently taken 70% of the risk of per metric ton deforestation from their competitors.

“This is the first real proof between the relations of zero-deforestation commitment and the lower risk of deforestation in the supply chain of palm oil,” said Dr. Robert Heilmayr of the University of California Santa Barbara (UCSB), who led the Trase research, as quoted from the website of Stockholm Environment Institute.

“But, there is still space for further progress of deforestation. Eighty five percent of total palm oil exported by companies committed to implementing zero-deforestation,” said Dr Heilmayr.

“Deforestation for palm oil in Indonesia has significantly decreased during the last few years, and our data shows that the largest decrease was seen in the supply chain regulated by the zero-deforestation commitment,” Trase Director Toby Gardner said.

During 2018–2020, the deforestation for palm oil reached 45,285 hectares per year or only 18% of its peak level during 2008–2012. What is important is that the deforestation has declined during the period of rising production of sustainable palm oil, despite the fact that the decline of deforestation was attributed to the decrease of market value of crude palm oil.

But apparently, the surging price of palm oil recently is not accompanied by the increase of deforestation caused by the palm oil. (*)

Source: SAWIT INDONESIA