Wednesday, November 11, 2015

Greenomics: two APRIL joint venture companies are clearing forested deep peatlands in the Kampar Peninsula Landscape

A new report released today by Greenomics Indonesia concludes that APRIL has not been able to eliminate deforestation and peatland destruction from its supply chain. Greenomics noted that two APRIL joint venture companies – PT UNISERAYA and PT TRIOMAS – are continuing to clear deep forested peatlands for oil-palm plantation development in the Kampar Peninsula Landscape, Riau Province, Sumatra, Indonesia. The two APRIL joint venture companies also own pulpwood plantation concessions (granted in their own names) in the Kampar Peninsula Landscape that supply pulpwood to APRIL’s mills.

The wood produced by the clearance of deep forested peatland is supplied to an RGE-linked plywood industry company. APRIL and RGE have actually undermined their own commitments.

Although the two APRIL joint venture companies are not clearing the aforesaid forested deep peatlands for the development of pulpwood plantations, both companies are legally registered as suppliers of APRIL's mills. This shows that APRIL’s supply chain continues to be tainted by deforestation, given that the two companies are APRIL joint ventures.
The report is based on USGS Landsat 8 images and photographs taken byEyes on the Forest (EoF) field observation team between the start of October and early November 2015. Data on peatland distribution and depth is based on data fromWetlands International.

Friday, November 06, 2015

Paper Risk Case Study: Indonesia

Environmantal Paper Network released an interactive lists of public data on identified forest-products subsidiaries, linked to the two giant Asia Pulp & Paper and APRIL, the two powerful paper giants controlling over 80% of Indonesian pulp capacity. Both companies recently released new new forest policies, committing them to stop deforestation and to take responsibility for the huge impacts on the environment and on local communities.

While environmentally and socially risky paper sources exist throughout the globe, Indonesia is home to some of the world’s last intact rainforests and also some of the world’s largest and most criticized producers for deforestation and conflict over land rights. Conservation of the tropical rainforests of the islands of Indonesia is a global priority for our climate, endangered species habitat and for communities that have rights to them.
The lush rain forests on the Indonesian island of Sumatra are the only place in the world where elephants, tigers, rhinos and orangutans coexist. But these exceptional forests suffer from what may be the world’s fastest deforestation rate, threatening the survival of those species and causing massive carbon emissions. More than 6 million hectares of natural forest were lost from 2002-2012. Since 1985, Sumatra has lost more than half of its forest cover, leaving less than 13 million hectares. With only about 400 Sumatran tigers and fewer than 2,800 Sumatran elephants left in the wild, this last remaining habitat is critical to the survival of these species. The pulp and paper and palm oil industries account for the vast majority of deforestation in Sumatra.
Conscientious purchasers are showing how to avoid the risks there – and leverage potential improvements for Indonesia’s environment and communities. Below find links to profiles of key suppliers with a brief analysis and further resources.

Asia Pulp & Paper (APP)
Long considered one of the world’s most problematic producers, APP recently adopted an important new forest policy. This APP profile is a clearinghouse for information on background and progress and provides performance metrics that buyers can use to verify APP’s progress in implementing their policy and addressing other concerns.
More on APP
interactive lists of public data on identified forest-products subsidiaries, affiliates, 

Asia Pacific Resources International Limited (APRIL)
International and Indonesian civil society organizations indicate that APRIL continues to be a highly problematic source. Their concerns with APRIL’s disastrous impacts on the forest, biodiversity, climate, community and human rights are summarized in this APRIL profile, as well as a database of subsidiaries and affiliated companies for use by purchasers implementing paper sourcing environmental policies.
More on APRIL
interactive lists of public data on identified forest-products subsidiaries, affiliates,