new ispo: a new hope to strengthen oil-palm governance? · traceability and ispo certification is...

6
1 Highlights Presidential Regulation No. 44/2020 on the Certification System for Sustainable Palm Oil Plantation in Indonesia aims to improve and strengthen the implementation of a certification system for sustainable palm oil plantations, increase the acceptance of palm oil products, and contribute to reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The ISPO principles set out in this new regulation are not much different from the previous principles. The principle of protecting primary forest and peat land has been removed and replaced with the principle of transparency. The elimination of the principle of protecting primary forests and peatlands and the exclusion of respect for human rights (HAM) has raised concerns that the ISPO Presidential Decree is not in line with global initiatives such as the Paris Agreement on Climate Change, Deforestation-Free Palm Oil, the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs 2030), and the European Union Action Plan to protect and restore the world’s forests. The most prominent change in Presidential Regulation 44/2020 is the mandatory application of ISPO for all plantation business actors, including independent smallholders. This expansion is believed to facilitate traceability of palm oil supply to the mill, thereby increasing the acceptability and competitiveness of Indonesian palm oil products in the national and international markets. Instead of increasing the number of ISPO certified plantations, the mandatory application of ISPO will actually exclude (discriminate against) independent smallholders because they are still not ready and face many obstacles, especially meeting aspects of legality of land status, business permits and funding. The role of the government, plantation companies, and civil society organizations is very important to prepare independent smallholder groups to apply the principles of sustainability. Introduction Palm oil is the world’s most traded vegetable oil and Indonesia is by far the world’s largest palm oil producers. Oil palm covers an estimated 16 million hectares in Indonesia and the crop has become a cornerstone its economy. The oil palm acreage has had an average expansion rate of 7.9% from 2014 to 2018 and provides an estimated 4.2 million direct jobs, an additional 12 million indirect jobs [2]. With export earning totalling more than 18 billion USD in 2018, palm oil is a key source of foreign exchange for Indonesia [1]. Given its importance for economic development, the Government of Indonesia (GoI) is committed to support and expand the oil palm sector. However, besides economic benefits, the sector is also frequently associated with environmental and social controversy. Expanding oil palm plantations are, amongst others, linked with bio-diversity loss, land conflict and reduced well-being for forest dependent communities. These undesirable consequences tarnish the reputation of palm oil, especially amongst Northern consumers. In 2004, these concerns led NGOs and leading private sector actors to establish the Roundtable for Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO), arguably the most stringent and successful international sustainability certification standard present in the oil palm sector. Answering the call for improving environmental and social sustainability concerns, and the initiative in shaping sustainability discussions, the Indonesian government established its own sustainable palm oil certification scheme. In 2011 the Ministry of Agriculture issued regulation No.19/Permentan /OT.140/3/2011, which founded the Indonesian Sustainable Palm Oil certification scheme, a regulation that was superseded by Ministry of Agriculture regulation No.11/Permentan/OT.140/3/2015 in 2015. Whereas RSPO certification is voluntary, the 2011 and 2015 regulations state that ISPO is mandatory for oil palm companies and voluntary for smallholders. Until the end of June 2020, 621 ISPO certificates have been issued, covering 5,450,329 ha, equivalent to 38% of Indonesia’s oil palm acreage [6]. However, in spite of this achievement, ISPO experiences considerable difficulties in safeguarding proper implementation and credibility, especially in the international arena. Recognizing the weaknesses of ISPO and acknowledging the call from civil society organizations, in 2016 the GoI commenced another round of strengthening ISPO[8]. This process led to Presidential Instruction No.44/2020 on the certification system of the Indonesian Sustainable Palm Oil (ISPO) plantations, which was issued in March 2020. New ISPO: a New Hope to Strengthen Oil-Palm Governance? Tropenbos Indonesia Info brief - October, 2020

Upload: others

Post on 02-Feb-2021

0 views

Category:

Documents


0 download

TRANSCRIPT

  • 1

    Highlights

    • PresidentialRegulationNo.44/2020ontheCertificationSystemforSustainablePalmOilPlantationinIndonesiaaimstoimproveandstrengthentheimplementationofacertificationsystemforsustainablepalmoilplantations,increasetheacceptanceofpalmoilproducts,andcontributetoreducinggreenhousegasemissions.

    • TheISPOprinciplessetoutinthisnewregulationarenotmuchdifferentfromthepreviousprinciples.Theprincipleofprotectingprimaryforestandpeatlandhasbeenremovedandreplacedwiththeprincipleoftransparency.Theeliminationoftheprincipleofprotectingprimaryforestsandpeatlandsandtheexclusionofrespectforhumanrights(HAM)hasraisedconcernsthattheISPOPresidentialDecreeisnotinlinewithglobalinitiativessuchastheParisAgreementonClimateChange,Deforestation-FreePalmOil,the2030SustainableDevelopmentGoals(SDGs2030),andtheEuropeanUnionActionPlantoprotectandrestoretheworld’sforests.

    • ThemostprominentchangeinPresidentialRegulation44/2020isthemandatoryapplicationofISPOforallplantationbusinessactors,includingindependentsmallholders.Thisexpansionisbelievedtofacilitatetraceabilityofpalmoilsupplytothemill,therebyincreasingtheacceptabilityandcompetitivenessofIndonesianpalmoilproductsinthenationalandinternationalmarkets.

    • InsteadofincreasingthenumberofISPOcertifiedplantations,themandatoryapplicationofISPOwillactuallyexclude(discriminateagainst)independentsmallholdersbecausetheyarestillnotreadyandfacemanyobstacles,especiallymeetingaspectsoflegalityoflandstatus,businesspermitsandfunding.Theroleofthegovernment,plantationcompanies,andcivilsocietyorganizationsisveryimportanttoprepareindependentsmallholdergroupstoapplytheprinciplesofsustainability.

    Introduction

    Palmoilistheworld’smosttradedvegetableoilandIndonesiaisbyfartheworld’slargestpalmoilproducers.Oilpalmcoversanestimated16millionhectaresinIndonesiaandthecrophasbecomeacornerstoneitseconomy.Theoilpalmacreagehashadanaverageexpansionrateof7.9%from2014to2018andprovidesanestimated4.2milliondirectjobs,anadditional12millionindirectjobs[2].Withexportearningtotallingmorethan18billionUSDin2018,palmoilisakeysourceofforeignexchangeforIndonesia[1].Givenitsimportanceforeconomicdevelopment,theGovernmentofIndonesia(GoI)iscommittedtosupportandexpandtheoilpalmsector.However,besideseconomicbenefits,thesectorisalsofrequentlyassociatedwithenvironmentalandsocialcontroversy.Expandingoilpalmplantationsare,amongstothers,linkedwithbio-diversityloss,landconflictandreducedwell-beingforforestdependentcommunities.Theseundesirableconsequencestarnishthereputationofpalmoil,especiallyamongstNorthernconsumers.

    In2004,theseconcernsledNGOsandleadingprivatesectoractorstoestablishtheRoundtableforSustainablePalmOil(RSPO),arguablythemoststringentandsuccessfulinternationalsustainabilitycertificationstandardpresentintheoilpalmsector.Answeringthecallforimprovingenvironmentalandsocialsustainabilityconcerns,andtheinitiativeinshapingsustainabilitydiscussions,theIndonesiangovernmentestablisheditsownsustainablepalmoilcertificationscheme.In2011theMinistryofAgricultureissuedregulationNo.19/Permentan/OT.140/3/2011,whichfoundedtheIndonesianSustainablePalmOilcertificationscheme,aregulationthatwassupersededbyMinistryofAgricultureregulationNo.11/Permentan/OT.140/3/2015in2015.WhereasRSPOcertificationisvoluntary,the2011and2015regulationsstatethatISPOismandatoryforoilpalmcompaniesandvoluntaryforsmallholders.UntiltheendofJune2020,621ISPOcertificateshavebeenissued,covering5,450,329ha,equivalentto38%ofIndonesia’soilpalmacreage[6].

    However,inspiteofthisachievement,ISPOexperiencesconsiderabledifficultiesinsafeguardingproperimplementationandcredibility,especiallyintheinternationalarena.RecognizingtheweaknessesofISPOandacknowledgingthecallfromcivilsocietyorganizations,in2016theGoIcommencedanotherroundofstrengtheningISPO[8].ThisprocessledtoPresidentialInstructionNo.44/2020onthecertificationsystemoftheIndonesianSustainablePalmOil(ISPO)plantations,whichwasissuedinMarch2020.

    New ISPO: a New Hope to Strengthen Oil-Palm Governance?

    TropenbosIndonesia Infobrief-October,2020

  • 2

    ThisInfobriefcomparesthepreviousISPOregulationswiththemostrecentupdate.ItprovidesananalysistowhatextendthenewregulationmayimprovetheperformanceoftheIndonesianoilpalmsectorandwhetheritislikelytoincreasethecredibilityandacceptanceofISPOinglobalmarkets.IndonesiaiscommittedtohonouritscommitmentsontheSustainableDevelopmentGoalsandgreenhousegasemissiontargetsassetattheParistreatyonClimateChangeandsupplytheworld,includingEurope,withaversatile,affordableandsustainablevegetableoil.Acredible,mandatorysustainabilitystandardappearsindispensableforthisandcrediblenewISPOregulationsmaywelldoso.

    Key differences of ISPO before and after the Presidential Instruction No. 44/2020

    ThenewPresidentialInstructionisclearlybasedonthepreviousISPOprinciples.However,therearesomenotabledifference.WhereastheearlierISPOregulationswereissuedbytheMinistryofAgriculture,thelatestISPOregulationswereissuedasapresidentialinstruction.Thisprovidesmorelegalandpoliticalweighttotheregulation.Article4inthenewregulationstatesthattherenewedprinciplesandcriteriaofISPOaretoincludesuggestionsandfeedbackfromcivilsocietyorganizations,academics,businessinterestsandotherrelevantstakeholdergroups.TheMinistryofAgricultureisnolongersolelyresponsibleforthedevelopmentandimplementationoftheISPOprinciplesandcriteria.However,whereastransparencyhasbeenaddedasaprincipleinthenewregulation,thereremainsmuchuncertaintyandscepticism.Thesepertainprimarilytothetransparencyindecisionmaking,theprocessofdevelopingnewprinciplesandcriteriaandtheexactinfluencestakeholdersbeyondtheMinistryofAgriculturecanexert.

    ThenewregulationstatesthattheactualissuingofcertificatesisconductedbytheISPOInstituteforCertificationandtherebybecomesmoreindependentoftheGovernment.BeforetheISPOCommissionwasissuingtheISPOcertificatesandconsistedofgovernmentofficialsonly.ThenewregulationsstatehoweverthattheISPOCommissionisstillchairedbytheMinistryofAgriculture,butbesidesgovernmentofficialsalsoinvolvesbusinessentities,academiaandindependentmonitors.

    Animportantchangehappenedinprinciple3,onprotectingprimaryforestsandlandpeats.Thisprinciplehasbeenchangedto‘environmentalmanagement,naturalresourcesandbiodiversity’.However,thereareconcernsthatregulation44/2020isstillinsufficienttohaltdeforestation,andsafeguardthatoilpalmvaluechainsaredeforestationfree.Themoratoriumontheuseofprimaryforestandlandpeatwereappliedalready

    since2011andeventhe2018moratoriumontheissuingoilpalmlicenceshasnothaltedtheexpansionofoilpalm,asexemplifiedbyanaverage7.89%annualexpansionrateoftheoilpalmacreagefrom2014-2018.ThisexpansionmainlytookplaceinRiau,CentralKalimantan,andPapuaprovinces,wheremassiveareasthatusedtobeclassifiedbeforeasforestshaverecentlybeenreclassifiedasnon-forestland1.Althoughcareshouldbegiventhatsomeoftheseforestlandsmightnothavebeencoveredwithtreesanymore,itisclearthattherapidexpansionofoilpalmappearstocreateaconsiderable‘carbondebt’.ThisisatoddswithgovernmentcommitmentsontheNationalDeterminedContributions(NDC)thatarepartoftheParisClimateChangeagreements.

    Oilpalmrelatedgreenhousegasemissionsareusuallyassociatedwithlandclearing,fertilizeruse,fuelandelectricityusedduringplantationestablishmentandoperation,andtheproductionofliquidwaste(POME)inthemillingprocess.ByexplicitlystatingadesireofreducingGHGemissions,itcanbeexpectedplantationsandmillspalmoilcontributestotheachievementofthetargetofreductionofemissionofgreenhousegases.AccordingtoRusolono(2018),oilpalmhasthepotentialtouptakeofcarbonamountedto105.90milliontonsCO2e/yearfora11.67millionhectareplantationarea,andthepotentialreductioninemissionsofGHGNDCupto21.3%ofthetargetof497milliontonsCO2e/year(target29%sectorforestry).

    ThenewregulationalsostatesthatalloilpalmplantationsrequireISPOcertification,meaningthevastsmallholdersectorneedstobecertifiedaswell.Smallholdershavefiveyearsfromthepublicationoftheregulationtoachievecertification.TherewillbetheallocationofStateBudget(APBN),RegionalBudget(APBD)andotherrelevantsourcestofinancethecertificationISPOforsmallholders.

    Besidesthedifferencesbetweentheoldandthenewregulation,thereisalsoanobjectionablesimilarity;theabsenceofaprincipleonhumanrights,includingtherightsofpeopleofindigenouscommunitiestoFree,PriorandInformedConsent.WhereasduringISPOdevelopmentmeetingsitwasrepeatedlyarguedbycivilsocietyorganizationsthatthisprincipleneededtobeadded,intheenditwasnotincluded,highlightingtheconcernsoftrueinclusivenessindeterminingthenewprinciplesandcriteria.BesidesFPIC,otherrelevanthumanrightsissuesnotdealtwitharelabourexploitationanddiscrimination,specificallyagainstwomen.ThisappearsamissedopportunityinworkingtowardsachievingtheSustainableDevelopmentGoals,andthecommon“Nooneleftbehind“adagio.

    1Riau,1.56millionhectares;CentralKalimantan1.17millionhectares;Papua1.1millionhectares.

    AwomencollectingfreshfruitbunchesinKetapang(photobyIrpanlamago)

  • 3

    ISPO Certification Barriers

    BystrengtheningISPOandmakingitmandatoryforallproducers,theIndonesiangovernmentwantstoincreasethevalueandacceptanceofISPOasaleadingsustainabilitystandard.However,implementationoftheISPOprovesdifficult.Somekeychallengesareidentifiedbelow.

    (i) Land status

    ISPOArticle8,paragraph3,statestherequirementofholdinglandrights.However,landrightsareoftencontestedandmanysmallholdersandcompanies,developedtheirplantationswithincompletelegallandownership.Thereareestimatesthatmorethan4millionhectares,meaning70%ofthetotal5.8millionhectareofsmallholderplantations,donotyethavecompletelandtitles[14].Withsuchvastnumbersnotmeetingthislegalrequirement,theimplementationofISPOcertificationwillfaceconsiderabledifficulties.

    ThroughPresidentialInstructionNo.8/2018,onthedelayandtheEvaluationandLicensingPlantationPalmOilandIncreasingProductivityofPalmOilPlantationsandcommonlyreferredtoasthePalmOilMoratorium,theGovernmenthasbeentakingstepstoresolveoverlappinglandrightsofpalmoilcompaniesonforestlands,whichareestimatedtocoverapproximately3.4millionhectares.Butuntilnowtheseproblemshavenotbeensolvedbecauseofthecomplexityoftheissueandthemanyinterestsinvolvedinfindingsuitablesettlements.

    Inadditiontooverlappinglandrightsissuesonforest,manyoilpalmgrowersareunwillingtofullylegalizeallthelandtheycultivateasthiswillrequirethemtopayforproperlandadministration,landandbuildingtax(PajakBumidanBangunan)andpaycertificatesforallland.Theprimaryconcernforgrowersissellingtheirproduceatareasonableprice,withoutpayingmuchattentiontoproceduresandcostsoverlandrightsorISPOcertificates.

    (ii) Traceability

    Whereasthenewregulationaddedtheprincipleoftransparency,itremainsunclearwhatthisentailsexactlyandtowhatextendtraceabilityofproducewillbepartofthenewregulations.IffulltraceabilityandISPOcertificationisrequired,thismaywellleadtoexclusionofsmallholdersasthesehardlyownISPOcertificatesandtheirsupplychainsarecomplex.Todatethereareonly14ISPOcertificatesforsmallholders,covering12,270hectares,or0.21%ofthe5.8millionhectaresofsmallholderoilpalmplantationsinIndonesia.

    (iii) Smallholder inclusiveness

    Landlegality,seedlegalityandsmallholderknowledgeonenvironmentalmanagementaremajorobstaclesforsmall-scaleoilpalmfarmerstoachieveISPOcertification[16].Theirplantationsareoftenlocatedinforestdomainandthereforetheycannotobtainlandcertificates(SuratHakMilik,SHM)orlicencestooperateanoilpalmplantation(SuratTandaDaftarUsahaPerkebunanUntukBudidaya,orSTD-B)[17].Itisestimatedthat

    Table 1.ComparisonofNewandOldISPO

    PresidentialInstructionNo.44/2020(NewISPO)

    MinistryofAgricultureRegulationNo.11/2015(OldISPO)

    Statedobjectives AssureandimprovemanagementanddevelopmentofoilpalmplantationsaccordingtoISPOprinciplesandcriteria

    ImproveacceptanceandcompetitivenessofIndonesianoilpalmplantationsproductsinnationalandinternationalmarket.

    Acceleratedeffortstoreducegreenhousegasemissions.

    EnsuringpalmoilcompaniesapplythelawsandregulationsinIndonesia.

    Contributetothereducinggreenhousegasemissions.

    Principles 1.Compliancewithrulesandregulations2.Applicationofgoodplantationpractices3.Environmentalmanagement,naturalresourcesandbiodiversity

    4.Responsibilitiesforworkers5.Socialresponsibilitiesandcommunityeconomicempowerment6.Applicationoftransparency7.Enhancementofbusinesssustainability

    1.Plantationlegality2.Plantationmanagement3.Protectionofnaturalprimaryforestsandpeatlands4.Environmentalmanagementandmonitoring5.Responsibilitiesforworkers6.Socialresponsibilitiesandcommunityeconomicempowerment

    7.Enhancementofbusinesssustainability

    Institutional TheISPOcommitteeischairedbyaMinistryofAgricultureofficial,butmembersincludegovernmentofficials,businessleaders,academics,civilsocietyorganizationsandindependentobservers;

    DecisionmakingoncertificationcarriedoutbytheInstituteforCertificationofISPO(thusdecreasingdependencyongovernmentbureaucracy).

    TheISPOcommissiononlyconsistsofgovernmentofficials.

    DecisionmakingonISPOcertificationiscarriedoutbytheISPOCommission(thusfullydependentonthegovernment).

    ObligationtohaveISPOcertification

    Allgrowers;companiesandsmallholders.SmallholdersarerequiredtohaveacertificateofISPOwithin5yearsafterthisregulationispublished.

    OnlycompaniesarerequiredtoholdISPOcertificate.ForsmallholdersISPOcertificationisonlyvoluntary.

    Penalty GivenbytheMinisterintheformofreprimandwritten,fines,freezingcertificateISPOand/orrevocationoftheISPOcertificate,revocationofbusinesslicenceofplantation,

    ProvidedbytheGovernororRegentaswrittenwarnings,adowngradingofplantationclassandeventuallyrevocationofbusinesslicenses.

    Financing Forcompanies,chargedtotheapplicant.Forsmallholders,fundsareavailablethroughtheStateBudget(APBN),RegionalBudgets(APBD)andotherlegitimatesources.

    Chargedtotheapplicant(onlycompanies).

  • 4

    only40%ofseedlingsareboughtfromlegitimatesources,whichmeansthemajorityusesillegitimateseedswhichoftenleadtoalowoilyieldpotential[19].Also,farmersgenerallydonotknowtheprinciplesofenvironmentalmanagementaccordingtoISPOstandards.Forexample,toclearland,somesmallholdersclearlandbyburningorusepesticidesatdosesthatdonotcomplywiththepredeterminedstandards.Mostoftheindependentoilpalmfarmersthinkthatgoodandcorrectenvironmentalmanagementisnotanurgentissue.TheseconditionshighlightthatindependentsmallholdersarestillnotreadytocarryouttheISPOcertificationprocess.Itisclearthatthisregulationmaywellleadtosmallholderexclusionfromtheoilpalmsectorifpropersupportisnotsupplied.

    (iv) Public Participation

    AkeyissueinthecurrentlackofcredibilityofISPOintheinternationalsustainabilityarenaistransparencyandpublicinvolvementintheimplementationofISPOcertification.EventhoughPerpres44/2020haslistedtransparencyasoneoftheISPOprinciples,theabsenceofindependentmonitorsaspublicrepresentativesintheimplementationofISPOcertificationlimittheleveloftrustinISPO.Independentmonitoringisfundamentaltoacrediblecertificationschemeandthegovernmentneedstobuildadialogueinvolvingallparties,includingcivilsocietygroups,tocorrectanyshortcomingsandoverseeingtheimplementationofISPO.

    Options for overcoming ISPO Barriers

    (i) Streamlining licensing procedures

    LandlegalityissuesandbusinesslicensingprocedureshavebeenconsiderablebarriersforoilpalmgrowersinbeingeligibleforISPOcertification.However,currentlytherearenewlegalinstrumentstoresolvetenurialconflictsandresolving“theoldissues”,asforexamplePerpres88/2017,Perpres86/2018,andPresidentialInstruction8/2018.Inaddition,theGovernmenthasalsoimplementedtheOnlineSingleSubmission(OSS)system,whichelectronicallyintegratesallbusinesslicensingservicesundertheauthorityofMinisters/HeadsofInstitutions,Governors,orRegents/Mayors.Thus,legalityandlicensingshouldnolongerbeanobstacleaslongasthereisastrongpoliticalcommitmentfrombureaucrats,bothatthecentralandregionallevels,toimplementexistingregulations.

    Thispoliticalcommitmentneedstobepursuitbyeachrelevantagencyinapolicythatis“breakthrough”,not“businessasusual”inordertosimplifythelicensingprocess.Forexample,accordingtothemandateofPresidentialInstruction8/2018,theMinistryofEnvironmentandForestryimmediatelyneedstoestablishapolicyandtakestepstoresolve“overdone”andoverlappingoilpalmplantationsinforestareasandtherebyprovidealegalfoundationformanysmallholderoilpalmplantations.Furthermore,theMinistryofAgrarianAffairsandSpatialPlanning/NationalLandAgencycanacceleratetheissuanceoflandrightsforthesesmallholderoilpalmplantations.Regardingbusinesslicensing,especiallyforindependentsmallholders,localgovernmentsneedtobeproactiveinregisteringindependentplantationsandfreeissuanceofSTD-B’s.

    (ii) Step-wise ISPO certification for smallholders

    Seeingthecurrentlevelofreadinessofthesmallholders,theimplementationofacredibleISPOcertificationwithoutexceptionsinthenextfiveyearswillbedifficult,ifnotimpossible,toachieve.AmorelogicalstepistoimplementISPOcertificationforsmallholdersinstages,whereeachstageappliestheprinciplesandcriteriathatmatchthecapabilitiesoftheindependentsmallholders.Withinthefive-yeardeadline,problemsrelatedtolegalizationandthecapacityofsmallholderoilpalmfarmerswillberesolved.Duringthistransitionalperiod,thegovernmentwillincreasethecapacityoffarmers,amongwhomfarmerswillbeprovidedwithtrainingtobeabletofullyimplementandfulfiltheISPOprinciplesandcriteria.

    The roles of Stakeholders

    (i) Government

    ThegovernmentisveryinstrumentalinacceleratingtheprocessoflicensingthatisrequiredbythosethatneedtomeetISPOstandards.Forexample,PresidentialDecree88/2017’sscopecanbeexpandedtoresolveoverlappingoilpalmplantationsinforestareas.Likewise,theimplementationofPresidentialInstruction8/2018needstobeacceleratedtoprovidelegalcertaintyforsmallholderoilpalmplantations,whoselandstatusisoftenstillunclear.Inaddition,andasmentionedearlier,localauthoritiesneedtoactivelyregisterandissueSTD-Bs.

    GettingindependentsmallholdersISPOcertifiedwillrequireconsiderableinvestments,notonlyfordirectcertificationcostsbutalsoforincreasingthecapacityofindependentsmallholdersandmobilizingtheminorganizations.Inthisregard,theroleoftheGovernmentisveryimportanttoensurethatnational(APBN)aswellasregional(APBD)allocationsmaterialize,aswellastransferringfundsfromvariousothersources,suchastheOilPalmPlantationFundManagementAgency(BPDP-KS).ThegovernmentcanalsoplayaroleinprovidingaccesstocapitalthroughPeople’sBusinessCredit(KUR),andassistinginmakingavailablesuperiorseeds,fertilizers,andotherproductiontools.

    TheapplicationofISPOcertificationalsorequiresknowledgeandmanagementskills.Hereespeciallyprogresscanbemadeintheindependentsmallholdersector.TheGovernmentcanplayanimportantroleindevelopingthecapacityandinstitutionalizationofsmallholdersthroughtraininganddevelopingawell-fundedandcapableextensionservice.Thegovernmentmustalsoencourageandfacilitatetheformationofindependentsmallholderinstitutions.Again,awell-functioningextensionservicesappearsindispensable.

    Currentlythesecapacitybuildingactivitiesarecarriedoutbylocalcivilsocietyorganizations.TheGovernmentcanalsotakeonaroleinmonitoringandsupervisingthosewhocarryoutcapacitybuildingforsmallfarmers.Thegovernmentneedstosetthestandardsandqualityassurance,sothatthecapacitybuildingprovidedcananswertheproblemoftheweakcapacityofsmall-scalefarmers.

    (ii) Private Sector

    ThetransformationprocesstowardsmoresustainableoilpalmplantationsisnotonlyintheinterestsofthegovernmentbutalsotheprivatesectoritselfasitmayimproveIndonesianpalmoil’sreputationgloballyandreduceinefficiencies.Oilpalmcompanies

  • 5

    alsoplayaroleinfosteringandincreasingthecapacityofsmallholders,aswellashelpingtodevelopandstrengthensmallholderorganizations.

    Inthenucleus-plasmapartnershipscheme,thecompanyhasastrongdirectinterestinISPOcertificationofitssmallholdersasitisdirectlypartofitssupplychain.Intheabsenceofapartnership,thecompanyhascorporatesocialresponsibilityforthesurroundingcommunity,includingindependentsmallholders.Companiescanfacilitateinstitutionaldevelopment,trainingonISPO,capacitybuildingandothers,sothatmoreandmoreindependentplantationswillgetISPOcertificates.

    Outsideoilpalmcompanies,financialinstitutionsplayanimportantroleinprovidingfinancialassistanceonanon-collateralbasis.AnimportantrolecanalsobeplayedbytheOilPalmPlantationFundManagementAgency(BPDPKS)tofacilitatefundingforindependentsmallholderstoobtainISPOcertification.

    (iii) Civil Society

    CivilSocietyOrganizations(CSOs)haveanimportantroleindevelopingandfacilitatingISPOcertification.TheyarestrategicpartnersfortheGovernmenttoprovideinputtothedevelopmentofstrongprinciplesandcriteria,reportviolationsrelatedtotheimplementationofISPOcertification,andbuildpublictrust.ThesearefundamentaltoincreasingtheacceptanceofISPOasarespectedsustainabilitystandard,andtherebythecompetitivenessofIndonesianpalmoilanditsderivatives.TheexistenceofCSOsisverymuchneededbytheGovernmentandplantationcompaniestohelpeducatestakeholdersandreportonpracticesinthefield.

    CSOsalsoplayanimportantroleinthecertificationofindependentsmallholders.Theyadvocateforchangesingovernancetowardssustainablemanagement,andactascommunityfacilitators.Theserolesasagentsofchangeinatransformationtowardsamoresustainablepalmoilsectorshouldbefostered.Theyaremorefamiliarwiththecharacteristics

    andrealneedsofthesmallholders,wellembeddedandcandisseminateknowledgeonISPOrequirementsandfacilitatesmallholdersinachievingthem.

    Recomendations

    (i) TheimplementingregulationsfortheISPOPerpres,whicharecurrentlybeingdraftedbytheMinistryofAgriculture,needtoconsiderandadjustvariousrelevantlawsandregulationsrelatingtoenvironmentalprotection,includingpeatecosystemsandnaturalforests,andhumanrights.

    (ii) InthepreparationofISPOCriteriaandIndicators,itisnecessarytoincludeaprohibitiononconversionofnaturalforestanddeeppeatlandforoilpalmplantations,aswellastheobligationtoprotectnaturalforests.Inaddition,itisnecessarytoconsiderthestructureofthesupplychain,includingallactors,theirconditionsandcapacities.Theapplicationoftheprinciplesandcriteriacanbecarriedoutinstageswherelegalcompliancebecomestheminimumelementofcomplianceforeachactorasaprerequisiteforsustainablepractice.

    (iii)Thegovernment,oilpalmplantationcompaniesandcivilsocietyorganizationsallneedtoassistandfacilitateindependentsmallholderstoapplythesustainabilityprinciplesstipulatedintheISPOcertification.Assistanceisnotonlylimitedtocapacitybuildingandinstitutionaldevelopment,butalsoimprovingaccesstocapitalandotherproductionprerequisites,guaranteereasonableprices,andassistanceduringthecertificationprocess.Inaddition,abreakthroughgovernmentpolicyisneededtoresolvetheobstaclesfacedbysmallholdersinimplementingISPO.

    (iv)TheISPOstandardmustbetteracknowledgetheinterestsofindigenouspeoples,smallholdersandvillagecommunities,andaccommodateplantationworkersandwomen’srights.Thesestakeholdersarepartandparcelofafairchecksandbalances,andnecessarytodevelopglobaltrustinISPO.

    SmallholderharvestingoilpalmfreshfruitbunchesinKetapang(photobyIrpanlamago)

  • 6

    References

    [1] DirectorateGeneralofPlantation,2019.Indonesian Plantation Statistics 2018-2020: Palm Oil.

    [2] Brodjonegoro,Bambang,2018.Bappenas : Industry Oil palm Absorption 16.2 million Tenaga Kerja.Downloadedfromhttps://bisnis.tempo.co/read/1142496/bappenas-industri-kelapa-sawit-serap-162-juta-tenaga-kerja/full&view=ok.

    [3] DirectorateGeneralofPlantation,2019.IndonesianPlantationStatistics2018-2020:PalmOil

    [5] FuadyAhmadH,et.al.,2014.Certification of Indonesian Biofuels and Palm Oil. Policy Brief 5/2014,CenterforResearchResourcesEasternRegionalInstituteofScienceKnowledgeIndonesia.

    [6] DailyInvestorIndonesia,2020.The Government Will Not Intervene in the Issuance of ISPO Certificates.Downloadedfromhttps://investor.id/business/pemerintah-takkan-intervensi-penerbitan-sasiswa-ispo.

    [7] ForestWatchIndonesia,2017.Six Years of ISPO: Studies Related to Strengthening ISPO Instruments in Responding to Negative Impacts such as Deforestation, Damage to Peat Ecosystems, Forest and Land Fires, and Tenure Conflicts.

    [8] KaoemTelapakandEIA,2020.A False Hope? An analysis of the draft new Indonesia Sustainable Palm Oil (ISPO) regulation.

    [9] Demadevina,N.,2020.Presidential Instruction 44/2020 on the Indonesian Sustainable Palm Oil Plantation Certification System.

    [10]KaoemTelapakandEIA,2020.A False Hope? An analysis of the draft new Indonesia Sustainable Palm Oil (ISPO) regulation.

    [11]RusolonoT.,2018.Oil Palm Plantation Management Innovations in Support of Climate Change Control.http://pojokiklim.menlhk.go.id/uploads/news/1539772342_

    Penyorption%20karbon%20pada%20Sawit%20dan%20NDC%20_Pojok%20Iklim_TeddyR.pdf

    [12]Demadevina,N.,2020.Presidential Instruction 44/2020 concerning the Indonesian Sustainable Palm Oil Plantation Certification System.

    [13]Kwan,Marlis,2020.Tempest Oil in Negotiation Agreements Partnership Economic Indonesia and the Union European.https://www.mongabay.co.id/2020/08/03/prahara-sawit-dalam-negokasi-perjanjian-kemitraan-ekonomi-indonesia-dan-uni-eropa/

    [14]https://www.cnbcindonesia.com/news/20181222172001-4-47622/70-lahan-sawit-tak-bersertifikasi-mungkkah-wajib-ispo.

    [15]AsofnowNew12270haGardensPalmPeopleCertifiedISPO.https://sawitplus.co/news/detail/11107/Jadi-kini-baru-12270-ha-kebun-sawit-rakyat-bersCertificate-ispo.

    [16]Dharmawanet.al.(2019).Readiness Petani Kelapa Sawit Governmental in Implementing ISPO: Issues Environment Life, Legality and Sustainability.JournalofEnvironmentalScience,Vol.17Issue2:304-315.ProgramStudyofScienceEnvironmentalSchoolofGraduateDiponegoroUniversity,Semarang.

    [17]ISPOShouldBeaSolution,NotaBurdentoFarmers.https://www.agrofarm.co.id/2020/08/ispo-sehukah-solusi-bukan-bebani-petani/

    [18]Apriyantoet.al.Analysis Readiness Farmers Governmental In Facing Draft Peraaturan President 44 Year 2020 About the Management of Oil Palm Berkelanajutan Judging Of Aspects Status of Land, Legal and Resources Seeds in Regency Indragiri Hilir.

    [19]Dharmawanet.al.(2019)op.cit.

    Publishedby:TropenbosIndonesia

    Copyright:TropenbosIndonesia,October2020(Text may be reproduced for non-commercial purposes, citing the source)

    Citation:PurwantoE,2020.NewISPO:aNewHopetoStrengthenOil-PalmGovernance?

    Infobrief-October,2020.TropenbosIndonesia.Bogor.

    Coverphoto:SmallholderOilPalmPlantationinKetapang,WestKalimantan

    Contact:Dr.EdiPurwanto:[email protected]|[email protected]

    TropenbosIndonesiaJl.AkasiaIBlockP-I/6,TanahSareal,Bogor-16163,Indonesia

    Phone:+62251-8316156www.tropenbos-indonesia.org

    Bridging the gaps between knowledge and practices on forested landscape governance