RSPO, HCVN SIGN MOU TO STRENGTHEN ECOSYSTEM PROTECTION IN PALM OIL INDUSTRY

By Kenny Teng Khoon Hock

BANGKOK, Nov 11 (Bernama) -- The Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on Monday with the High Conservation Value Network (HCVN) to enhance efforts in safeguarding high conservation values (HCVs) and high carbon stock (HCS) forests integral to sustainable palm oil production.

The MOU formalises a shared commitment to protecting these critical ecosystems, which play an essential role in conserving biodiversity and supporting responsible land management within the palm oil sector.

RSPO chief executive officer Joseph D’Cruz said the partnership with HCVN aligns with the upcoming adoption of the 2024 RSPO Standards, which will reinforce RSPO’s use of the Integrated High Conservation Value-High Carbon Stock (HCV-HCS) approach.

“The adoption of the 2024 RSPO Standards provides an ideal opportunity to underscore our partnership with HCVN. These updated standards strengthen RSPO’s commitment to protecting vital ecosystems while offering clear, actionable guidance for responsible palm oil planting. 

"HCVN’s insights have enhanced the RSPO Standards, positioning it as a leading tool for addressing deforestation in global supply chains,” he said at the RSPO’s Annual Roundtable Conference (RT2024) here.

HCVN global director, Belinda Bowling, emphasised that the joint efforts are directed at supporting resilient ecosystems, preventing biodiversity loss, and integrating HCV considerations into sustainable production standards. “We are united in our pursuit of global sustainability goals, working to ensure palm oil practices that benefit people, nature, and the future of our planet,” Bowling said.

The MOU builds on years of collaboration between RSPO and HCVN to protect ecosystems and biodiversity, as well as sites and resources vital to indigenous peoples and local communities.

Since adopting the HCV approach in November 2005 and the HCS approach in November 2018, RSPO Certification has protected over 466,600 hectares of valuable HCV and HCS forests as of 2023.

Separately, the RSPO also signed an MOU with Global Green Chemicals Public Company Limited (GGC) and Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) to expand climate-focused partnerships.

RSPO's head of technical and smallholder department, Francisco Naranjo, said the MOU aims to foster collaborative partnerships that integrate climate impact reduction within RSPO Certification through the Sustainable Palm Oil Production and Procurement Project on Climate Mitigation and Adaptation (SPOPP CLIMA), funded by GGC. He noted that GIZ will lead the implementation of the SPOPP CLIMA initiative.

“The MOU between GGC, GIZ, and RSPO underscores the importance of multi-stakeholder collaboration in empowering smallholders to adopt sustainable practices, positioning them as key players in combating climate change by reducing greenhouse gas emissions from palm oil production,” he said.

-- BERNAMA