Achievements towards responsible agriculture and plantations

Laying the foundations for responsible agriculture

Massive industries. Colossal interests. And the world's most valuable and biodiverse forests.

WWF’s efforts for responsible agriculture and plantations aim to reduce the threats of palm oil, soy and other commodities on High Conservation Value Forests.

This is no easy task, but we have already ratcheted up quite a few successes - such as the ones below.

Adoption of voluntary production standards by the Round Table on Responsible Soy

These interim standards require producers to take measures to protect the environment, including prohibitions on the conversion of areas with high conservation value and eliminating hazardous pesticides in soy farming. Find out more

Palm oil (Sawi palm) plantation, harvest. Lampung, Sumatra, Indonesia

Development of RSPO Principles & Criteria for better practices in production of palm oil globally

These Principles & Criteria encompass all facets of sustainability, and ensure that production is economically viable, environmentally appropriate and socially beneficial.
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Soya or Soy beans (Glycine soja) plantation

Initiation and establishment of Round Table on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) and Roundtable on Responsible Soy (RTRS)

WWF has set up multi-stakeholder roundtables that bring together producers, traders, financiers and social and environmental organizations. Their joint aim is to put in practice responsible production and use of these crops - practices that do not threaten forests and endangered species.
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An aerial view featuring the distinctive meanders and oxbow lakes of the Kinabatangan floodpla

Forest restoration with palm oil companies in Malaysia

In the Kinabatangan River Basin floodplains of Malaysian Borneo, the intertwined fates of orangutans, elephants and the palmoil industry collide on a daily basis. Because much of the forest has been converted to agriculture, the local wildlife’s natural habitat has been reduced to patches within a sea of plantations.

Now, by collaborating with oil palm companies, WWF has arranged tree-planting initiatives and some companies have even taken up restoring forestland in flood prone areas on their own, as a way to reduce the negative impact of flooding on their estates.

Watershed Management forum in Papua, Indonesia

To improve land management in Merauke, Papua, a Watershed Catchment (DAS) forum has been established by WWF; indigenous groups; local NGOs; and government, village, and university representatives.

The purpose of the forum is disaster management, prevention of water shortage, ensuring the quality and quantity of drinking water, and land-use planning – including responsible agricultural development.

The local government is showing signs that it is taking this forum seriously, and has made it part of its agenda to protect and use forests sustainably.

The Atlantic Forest has extemely high biodiversity, but is also one of the most endangered rainforests on earth.

Zero Deforestation Law in Paraguay

In support of this law, WWF worked to implement a "social pact" with agriculture producers in the Upper Parana Atlantic Forest, Paraguay. The pact, which has been signed by Paraguayan President Nicanor Duarte Frutos, agricultural businesses and local governments, is aimed at conserving and restoring the forest.

Data from Oil World indicates that the deforestation law has not affected soy production in Paraguay, the world's fourth largest soybean exporter. In fact, production has actually increased in spite of the law.
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Young Sumatran elephant in Way Kambas, Sumatra, Indonesia.

Development and implementation of Human-Elephant conflict mitigation guidelines in Indonesia

The Better Management Practices designed by WWF and partners are all about making sure that the impact of forest conversion on natural forests and biodiversity is reduced, from human-wildlife conflict resolution to integrated pest management and waste minimisation and utilisation.
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Newly planted oil plam trees in smoke from forest fires, Sumatra, Indonesia.<BR>

Engagement with the palm oil industry in Indonesia

SMART and Astra Agro Lestari are 2 of Indonesia's major palm oil producers. WWF has signed Memoranda of Understanding with these firms to carry out pilot assessments of High Conservation Value Forests (HCVF) in some of their concessions.

Both companies have agreed to implement the protection and management prescriptions identified in the HCVF work, and to apply the lessons learned in their other concessions throughout Indonesia. The companies hope to apply the lessons-learned from these pilot assessments to other concessions under their management.

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