Asia Pulp & Paper (APP), a forestry giant that has been widely criticized for its role in driving deforestation and contributing to social conflict in Indonesia, today announced a zero deforestation policy that could have a dramatic impact on efforts to slow the Southeast Asian nation's high rate of deforestation.
The policy, which went into effect February 1, is ambitious enough that one of APP's most vocal critics and agitators, Greenpeace, will suspend its highly-damaging campaign against the paper giant. The campaign against APP has cost the paper giant tens of millions of dollars in lost business since 2009.
The new policy targets several of the major criticisms against APP, including deforestation, degradation of high carbon peatlands, conservation of critical wildlife habitat, and social conflict with local communities.
“This is a major commitment and investment from APP Group," said Teguh Ganda Wijaya, Chairman of the APP Group, in a statement. "We are doing this for the sustainability of our business and for the benefit of society. "
“APP is a world leader in the pulp and paper business, and we will act as leaders are expected to do.”
The deal was brokered by The Forest Trust (TFT), a non-profit consultancy that helps companies reduce the environmental impact of their operations. TFT will be responsible for monitoring APP's compliance with the policy. Greenpeace says it will independently monitor the agreement. If APP fails to meet the terms of the commitment, Greenpeace says it will resume its campaign. Nonetheless, Greenpeace has a lot riding on the deal.
“We commend APP for making this commitment to end deforestation, but it’s what happens in the forest that counts and we will be monitoring progress closely. If APP fully implements its new policies it will mark a dramatic change in direction, after years of deforestation in Indonesia,” said Bustar Maitar, Head of Greenpeace’s Forest Campaign in Indonesia.
"This does suggest that the company is serious about these commitments – but as in the case of all the other commitments announced today, APP will be judged against delivery – which will take time," Greenpeace campaigner Andy Tait told mongabay.com. "If APP fails again in implementing commitments our view is that there will no way back for the company with many of its former customers, or with civil society."
The policy, should it hold, would mark a shocking reversal for APP, which has been depicted by a number of groups as one of the world's biggest environmental pariahs, a characterization that led scores of companies to drop APP as a supplier.
For the complete article, please see mongabay.com.
