Antara News·Indonesia·Sunday, November 1, 2026 at 03:49 AM UTC

RSPO reaffirms zero-tolerance policy on palm oil land fires

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Subagyo, Rahmad Nasution

Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) has reaffirmed its strict, non-negotiable zero-tolerance policy on land clearing through burning, pledging stronger fire prevention and accountability across the palm oil industry.

RSPO Director of Assurance Aryo Gustomo said the organization was strengthening its commitment to proactive fire prevention, rigorous standards and evidence-based accountability.

Speaking in Jakarta on Saturday, Gustomo highlighted the importance of RSPO standards, certification systems and procedures in mitigating fire risks and safeguarding supply chain integrity.

"Forest and land fires pose serious threats to ecosystems, biodiversity and local communities. RSPO takes every fire risk extremely seriously," he said at a side meeting ahead of the RSPO Annual Roundtable Conference, organized by SawitWatch, Yayasan Ekosistem Lestari and Satya Bumi.

Global palm oil industry players will gather in Jakarta for the RSPO Annual Roundtable Conference (RT2026) on November 3-4.

RSPO ensures certified sustainable palm oil production operates under clear rules, strict no-burning requirements and robust assurance systems, Gustomo said.

When concerns or allegations arise, RSPO follows structured, transparent and credible procedures to assess evidence, uphold due process and enforce accountability when violations of its standards are established.

RSPO stands in solidarity with civil society organizations, partners and other stakeholders seeking accountability and action over recent fires involving members, with the shared goal of permanently ending Indonesia's recurring fire and haze crisis, he said.

Speaking at a discussion titled "Forest and Land Fires, Ecosystem Protection and Palm Oil Sustainability," Gustomo said available data showed that palm oil was no longer the main driver of forest fires and transboundary haze.

Nusantara Atlas verified that nearly 90 percent of the 1.9 million hectares burned in Indonesia between January and September 2026 were outside oil palm concessions.

The findings underscore the importance of robust standards and monitoring systems, while highlighting certification as an essential long-term solution, Gustomo said.

He outlined several key features of RSPO's framework designed to strengthen transparency and accountability among its members.

The 2024 Principles and Criteria (P&C): Prohibit land clearing by fire and require protection of peatlands and High Conservation Value (HCV) areas.

Real-Time Hotspot Monitoring: Uses satellite surveillance through the FireWatch system to monitor potential fire activity.

Independent Complaints System: Allows stakeholders to submit formal complaints to an independent Complaints Panel, with cases recorded in a public database.

Enforceable Sanctions: Violations of no-burning requirements can trigger corrective measures, certificate suspensions or termination of membership.

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