Di Balik Kebakaran Hutan Papua

Summary

The script discusses deforestation and forest fires, particularly on land owned by Korindo, a company with a large palm oil concession in Papua, Indonesia. It mentions investigations by Forest, Towards Cancel, or FC, an organization that oversees and certifies forest products. Despite allegations of environmental damage and human rights violations against indigenous communities, the company claims to adhere to best practices and has obtained Indonesian Sustainable Palm Oil System certification. However, data from Global Forest Watch suggests continued deforestation activities by one of Korindo's subsidiaries, PT Papua Argo Lestari, in 2017. The script also highlights the public's questioning of the Indonesian government's commitment to monitoring and sanctioning palm oil companies.

Takeaways

• 🔥 Intentional forest fires have occurred on land belonging to Korindo, as indicated by an investigation by Forest, Towards Cancel, or FC, an organization that oversees and certifies forest products.
• 💧 The community-based organization Meyd-202 Gas Swadaya reported environmental damage and alleged violations by Korindo, which led to the publication of a report in 2016.
• ✅ The military officially reported Korindo to the FC in June 2017, leading to the formation of an investigative team in September 2017, which conducted research in Papua, Indonesia from November to December 2017.
• 📝 In July 2018, the investigative team compiled a report and provided recommendations to the board of FC.
• 🤝 In March 2019, the FC board held a mirror meeting and decided to involve experts to analyze the findings of the investigation.
• 🌳 June 2019 saw FC issuing recommendations for Korindo to improve its performance.
• 📉 Despite FC's recommendations, Korindo remained a member of FC in November 2019, even though the investigation found several violations including massive deforestation and human rights abuses against indigenous communities.
• 🌴 Korindo claims to operate a palm oil business in Papua in accordance with best principles, ensuring no intentional land burning for clearing palm oil plantations.
• 📈 Forensic Architecture's satellite imagery revealed a pattern of deliberate fires in one of Korindo's concession areas, PT Dome Infra, between 2012 and 2015.
• 🏆 Korindo has committed to responsible forest management, as shown by its Indonesian Sustainable Palm Oil (ICBPO) certification and a moratorium on land clearing for oil palm plantations since February 2017.
• 🚫 However, data from Global Forest Watch indicates that PT Papua Argo Lestari, a Korindo subsidiary, continued deforestation activities exceeding 1000 hectares in the same year.

Q & A

What is the issue with the land owned by Korindo?

The land owned by Korindo has been the subject of complaints due to environmental damage, including intentional forest fires, which are suspected to be a result of their operations.

Who conducted the investigation into Korindo's activities?

The investigation was conducted by a forensic team, which included a visit to Papua, Indonesia, and used satellite imagery to analyze patterns of fires within Korindo's concession areas.

What was the timeline of the investigation into Korindo's activities?

The investigation was initiated in 2017 with a team visiting Papua from September to December of that year. The findings were reported in July 2018, and recommendations were made to the board in March 2019.

What were the findings of the forensic investigation regarding Korindo's land concessions?

The investigation found that there was an increase in fire points in almost all of Korindo's land concessions between 2012 and 2015, suggesting deliberate burning.

How did Korindo respond to the allegations of forest burning?

Korindo denied the allegations, stating that they follow best principles and do not engage in land burning for clearing palm oil plantations. They also mentioned their commitment to sustainable practices, evidenced by their Indonesian Sustainable Palm Oil (ICBPO) certification.

What is the significance of the ICBPO certification mentioned by Korindo?

The ICBPO certification signifies that Korindo's practices meet certain sustainability standards in palm oil production, which includes responsible land management and environmental protection.

What is the moratorium that Korindo implemented in 2017?

In February 2017, Korindo implemented a moratorium on land clearing for new palm oil plantations across all its subsidiaries, indicating a commitment to responsible land management.

What is the discrepancy reported by Global Forest Watch regarding PT Papua Argo Lestari?

Despite the moratorium, Global Forest Watch data suggests that PT Papua Argo Lestari, a subsidiary of Korindo, continued deforestation activities, clearing over 1000 hectares in 2017.

What is the role of the Indonesian government in overseeing and sanctioning palm oil plantation companies?

The Indonesian government is expected to monitor and sanction companies involved in unsustainable practices, such as deforestation and human rights violations, through its environmental and forestry agencies.

What actions have been taken by the public and government officials in response to the issues raised in the script?

The public and government officials have questioned the government's commitment to oversight and sanctions against palm oil plantation companies. Efforts have been made to obtain statements from the Ministry of Environment and Forestry regarding the case, but no official statement has been released at the time of the script.