In the Christian Organisations’ Working Forum discussion (JKLPK) on Friday, 9/5, Amin Siahaan explains about plantation sector. He sees Sawit Watch and other sectors collaborating for national advocacy. The output is a design for national advocacy.

Sawit Watch suggests that Indonesia has 25.33 million hectares of oil palm plantation. Small holders own 35%, while large plantation companies own 65% of plantation (government plantation 15%, and private companies 50%). Total employment in this industry is 16.2 million workers.

In 2024, oil palm export value is at US$ 27.76 billion or Rp. 440 trillion.
There are 1,116 communities who experience conflicts, with 325 large companies, mostly with regards to land ownership. Partnership conflict is about conflicts that started when companies established itself in particular areas and the conflicts continue.
Oil palm, greenhouse gas emission, and global warming have to do with carbon-dioxide, a component of greenhouse gas that contributes significantly to global warming. Carbon-dioxide results from activities such as deforestation. Plants can absorb carbon dioxide naturally.
Rapidly diminishing biodiversity reduces nature’s capacity to absorb carbon, as forests are cut down both for oil palm plantation and for wood harvesting.
The discussion offers a number of conclusion: oil palm expansion with no regard for deforestation is a big mistake. The ability of oil palm to absorb carbon emission is far less that the emission from changes in land use.
Expansion of oil palm will only lead to greater deforestation and higher risks. It may also contribute to global climate change.

There is imbalance between emission and carbon storage – that is to say, more CO2 emitted than absorbed. The carbon storage is far less than the emission from changes in land use particularly in forested areas where minerals and peat are.

Maka diperoleh rekomendasi-rekomendasi :
-Perlu mempertimbangkan kebijakan perkebunan sawit, terutama untuk mencegah kerusakan dan fluktuasi simpanan karbon.
-Diperlukan mitigasi yang serius untuk menekan dampak alih fungsi lahan, terutama pada lahan gambut dan hutan di tanah mineral sehingga emisi yang dihasilkan dapat dikontrol untuk menekankan proses proses pengelolaan secara berkelanjutan.
-Tanaman sawit tidak ditanam di lahan gambut untuk mendukung penyelamatan bumi dan memprioritaskan kelestarian lingkungan dengan menghindari penanaman sawit di lahan gambut yang berpotensi meningkatkan emisi Gas Rumah Kaca.

Discussion Session and Interactive Question and Answer

With regards to the question of whether it is allowed to open peat land, the answer it that large RSPO companies are not allowed to open in peat land. This is a preventive measures to avoid carbon emission. Every little step is worth it in the march towards climate change.
The chairperson of LSKM, Marselinus Utan offers a note, that (1) there must be attention to hilly areas and the island with most damage is Kalimantan. Right now, we are coming face-to-face with company (companies) that grow plants in this group, and we will report it to RSPO and Sawit Watch together with JKLPK.
The plantation companies talk about it, but peasants change the land use from rubber plantation to oil palm plantation. Almost all local population has switched the land use. This has happened in the last three years, and it is highly concerning.
It is therefore important to provide education to communities in light of the limitation this has got to do with financing as well. This is especially true in Kalimantan, Utan agrees that there should be cooperation with the National Secretary of JKLPK to do community awareness raising.
The district meeting is organised by the National Secretary and plantation operators, and there is a call to get the land out of the plantation Rights of Business Use. This can be done jointly.

Tua Gerson Zendrato Tunas Borneo Proiklim expresses his opinion that it is tough to prevent oil palm expansion, especially after the president’s statement. How would implementation be in the future – would it be based on professionalism or what? The true issue is the carbon emission from oil palm plantation. On the other hand, the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) is not mandatory.
And if RSPO is mandatory, the where is its position and can it be effective? There is regulation with regards to peat land that companies use "to push the boundary". So who is in charge of control when it comes to the peat land.
This is a major dilemma, as the peat emission is extremely high. The question then is who has the control function?

There are communities who know and that is the basis for advocacy. There are also communities who come for consultation - that their land is confiscated by the company (companies). They do not know what to do.

Tua asks what he and his organisation can do to help. Would JKLPK have advice?
Sawit Watch answers that with regards to control, it is the authority of the local government, and the assessment instrument is one local business. It is compulsory when assessing plantation business, and when the assessment is done, one will know which one is good and which one is not good.
It is compulsory for each district to issue a District Administrator Regulation on oil palm, which, according to District Action Plan, should contains five components: improvement in capability and capacity in plantation data collection, the existence of data collection which is supposed to be an instrument for conflict resolution. If this is not possible, then it should be a task to do for everyone. How this is going to happen – there should be government role – hence the need for joint advocacy with Sawit Watch and others.

Tua Gerson responds to the fact that those with mandate are not doing it wholeheartedly. Now, the issue is how to use the function, not only as spectator, but as control. We have a control function, not just to observe. So how should we control?

Udin (from KTH Agro Mulyo Lestari Sejahtera) responds by asking the function of the government. Companies - members of RSPO - have given certification on his company’s plantation. There are still issues. So it is confusing. Should we talk about it being mandatory or not, this remains the issue. There is appeal in North Sumatra. They are promoting to become RSPO members. This is an instrument and it is not that tough to judge in order to become RSPO members.
The State has policy but there is no institution to take up the mandate.

Utan says that his side has reported to the president, to the National Human Rights Commission, and others. We are ready to receive the data but the company - PT Sampurna – is not willing to provide any data. It has been two weeks, and so far there is no further progress.
He emphasises that there should unity when it comes to voicing their ideas. "It has to be a revolution. Parliament members should not just sit comfortably in their chairs. If we are truly activists, then all of Indonesia should move," he says.

Sahat Pandingan (JKLPK) states that his organisation will conduct non-litigation measures. There is Law on Information Openness. The advocacy is then directed towards finding out communities understanding of the acquisition, which would be presented to discussion participants. Community-level strengthening as stated earlier addresses what communities want with regards to the situation (re. the land). They are fully aware that they are fighting for their rights to live. This is our resolve to fights for people’s rights.

Sawit Watch adds that verification status does not guarantee that a company can address conflict with communities. Peasants and workers need better policies in order to ensure social justice, and discussion happens only when there are problems, which is a significant challenge. (Ast)