The battle for green cred in the Indonesian pulp and paper industry heats up, with APP declaring its goal to restore and support the conservation of one million hectares of Sumatran rainforest. Even eco-lobby groups Greenpeace and World Wildlife Fund (WWF) have lowered the picket signs and taken notice, as the pulp and paper mill substantially strengthens the Forest Conservation Policy (FCP) it launched in 2013.
A year on from APP's (Asia Pulp and Paper) landmark disavowal of non-plantation fibre in its production chain, the new announcement sees the mill take bold strides in its bid to regain brand favour and footing in Australia. APP is currently is consultation with WWF and other groups to develop detailed, time-bound plans for identified priority landscapes. According to Aida Greenbury, managing director of sustainability, APP, the ultimate aim of the plan is to work closely with local communities and NGOs to achieve total landscape sustainability.
"After over a years of implementing our FCP, it has become clear that the key to success of any efforts to half deforestation in Indonesia is a landscape level approach to forest restoration and conservation," said Greenbury.
"We believe that by assessing entire landscapes and creating clear tailor-made objectives and strategies, the maximum possible level of conservation will be achieved, not just for natural forest in our concessions, but for areas around them as well."
The first step for APP is in the 30 Hills landscape, Bukit Tigapuluh in Jambi, Sumatra, where it will work to provide wildlife corridors and additional buffer areas. The region is a vital habitat for tiger, elephant and orangutan populations. APP is also developing an independently administered trust fund devoted to the future of these conservation measures, which will receive start-up funding by APP.
According to Rod Taylor, director, World Wildlife Fund global forest programme, the initiative is ambitious but encouraging. WWF remains typically cautious in its endorsement, waiting for details to be firmed up over the coming months with local authorities, communities and stakeholders.
"World Wildlife Fund and other NGOs have identified the lack of attention to APP's deforestation legacy as a major shortcoming in the original Forest Conservation Policy. We are encouraged by this announcement and look forward to working with APP and other stakeholders to figure out the details of where and how forests will be restored and conserved under this initiative," says Taylor.
With its new million hectare goal, APP once more takes the lead on rival Indonesian mill, APRIL (Asia Pacific Resources International Ltd.), which remains committed its more modest 2019 deadline to exclude non-plantation fibre. APRIL also recently pledged to support new conservation areas equal in size to its plantations, around 450,000 hectares. APRIL's own efforts have also drawn cautious support from eco-lobby groups, although most urge for tighter deadlines and stronger measures.