Download - Sam Lawson, Earthsight 30 th October 2013
![Page 1: Sam Lawson, Earthsight 30 th October 2013](https://reader035.vdocuments.mx/reader035/viewer/2022062322/56814775550346895db4ad59/html5/thumbnails/1.jpg)
Sam Lawson, Earthsight30th October 2013
Forest conversion for industrial oil palm:
Recent developments in the Congo Basin and lessons from SE Asia
![Page 2: Sam Lawson, Earthsight 30 th October 2013](https://reader035.vdocuments.mx/reader035/viewer/2022062322/56814775550346895db4ad59/html5/thumbnails/2.jpg)
Which major market req…Which major market requirements are changing?
How important are their consumer markets to global trade?(net imports, RWE)
Which major market are requiring proof of legality / sustainability?Which major market req…Who am I?
Recent relevant activities:
1. Carried out research on oil palm development in the Congo basin for Rainforest Foundation UK (recently published in report ‘Seeds of Destruction’ aka ‘Planter pour Détruire’)
- Consultant, Director of Earthsight Investigations (research consultancy)
2. Running global research prog with Forest Trends, looking at conversion of forests for large-scale agricultural developments (inc how much such conversion is illegal)
3. Also carrying out research for Chatham House to measure illegal logging & response in DRC, Rep of Congo (REPORTS DUE OUT SOON)
![Page 3: Sam Lawson, Earthsight 30 th October 2013](https://reader035.vdocuments.mx/reader035/viewer/2022062322/56814775550346895db4ad59/html5/thumbnails/3.jpg)
Which major market req…Which major market requirements are changing?
How important are their consumer markets to global trade?(net imports, RWE)
Which major market are requiring proof of legality / sustainability?Which major market req…Lessons from SE Asia: Oil palm v Forests
- 2.8 million hectares of forest in Indo/Mal cleared to make way for oil palm in 15 yrs
- 50-60 per cent of all OP expansion in Mal-Indo occurred at the expense of natural forests
- By far the largest driver of deforestation in SE Asia
- massive carbon emissions; loss of biodiversity; endangered species
- OP co’s favour forested areas (fewer land rights issues; timber values)
- much of the expansion has been illegal; lots of corruption involved
- conflicts with and devastating detrimental impacts on local people
![Page 4: Sam Lawson, Earthsight 30 th October 2013](https://reader035.vdocuments.mx/reader035/viewer/2022062322/56814775550346895db4ad59/html5/thumbnails/4.jpg)
Which major market req…Which major market requirements are changing?
How important are their consumer markets to global trade?(net imports, RWE)
Which major market are requiring proof of legality / sustainability?Which major market req…The Congo basin: terrifying potential
- Two-thirds of the Congo basin’s rainforest area has suitable soils and climate for oil palm
- Indonesia & Malaysia expected to run out of suitable land by 2020-2022
- Global demand expected to outstrip supply – 7 million ha of additional expansion required, in excess of current BAU expansion
- Cheap land, cheap labour, good EU market access, compliant govts
DRIVERS
- Labour and land costs inc in SE Asia
![Page 5: Sam Lawson, Earthsight 30 th October 2013](https://reader035.vdocuments.mx/reader035/viewer/2022062322/56814775550346895db4ad59/html5/thumbnails/5.jpg)
Which major market req…Which major market requirements are changing?
How important are their consumer markets to global trade?(net imports, RWE)
Which major market are requiring proof of legality / sustainability?Which major market req…The seeds of destruction
- Congo basin govts actively targeting large-scale expansion
- Many of the world’s largest OP companies expanding to Congo basin
- Area encompassed by announced OP projects expanding rapidly since 2010
- 1.6 mill ha announced, of which 0.5 mill ha confirmed, but only a few thousand ha cleared and planted so far
- Even though the process has barely begun, the first few projects already demonstrate some of the same env & social impacts & issues seen elsewhere
- Expansion can be expected to continue (other companies known to be scoping for land)
![Page 6: Sam Lawson, Earthsight 30 th October 2013](https://reader035.vdocuments.mx/reader035/viewer/2022062322/56814775550346895db4ad59/html5/thumbnails/6.jpg)
Which major market req…Which major market requirements are changing?
How important are their consumer markets to global trade?(net imports, RWE)
Which major market are requiring proof of legality / sustainability?Which major market req…Impact of just the first 3 plantations
- Cameroon, Gabon, Republic of Congo
- Only 1 large new project actually broken ground in each country so far
- Increased deforest due to these projects ALONE:
Cameroon: ▲ 30%Gabon: ▲ 140%Republic of Congo: ▲ 90%
![Page 7: Sam Lawson, Earthsight 30 th October 2013](https://reader035.vdocuments.mx/reader035/viewer/2022062322/56814775550346895db4ad59/html5/thumbnails/7.jpg)
Which major market req…Which major market requirements are changing?
How important are their consumer markets to global trade?(net imports, RWE)
Which major market are requiring proof of legality / sustainability?Which major market req…Case Study: Atama Plantations, Rep of Congo
- Largest oil palm development in Congo basin
- Total area 470,000ha; at least 180,000ha to be converted
- Most of the land is intact, primary forest, habitat for chimpanzees and gorillas
- Large area of overlap with new National Park
- No social or environmental impact assessment
- Highly secretive: even most basic documents such as concession maps withheld; Identities of owners shielded through web of off-shore shell companies
- This one project will most likely DOUBLE the deforestation rate in RoC
- Co’ with no prev exp will be catapulted into top 10 OP co’s in world
![Page 8: Sam Lawson, Earthsight 30 th October 2013](https://reader035.vdocuments.mx/reader035/viewer/2022062322/56814775550346895db4ad59/html5/thumbnails/8.jpg)
Which major market req…Which major market requirements are changing?
How important are their consumer markets to global trade?(net imports, RWE)
Which major market are requiring proof of legality / sustainability?Which major market req…Case Study: Atama Plantations, Rep of Congo
- Clear-felling in first 5000ha area began in 2012
‘TIMBER-GRAB?’
- Numerous illegalities identified already (one inspection, v small area)
- Potentially 22.5 million m3 of timber to be harvested, worth $2.3 billion
- This is 15x the annual legal selective cut in the whole country
- This one concession could DOUBLE Congolese log exports for 10-20 years
- Implications for EU FLEGT VPA
![Page 9: Sam Lawson, Earthsight 30 th October 2013](https://reader035.vdocuments.mx/reader035/viewer/2022062322/56814775550346895db4ad59/html5/thumbnails/9.jpg)
Which major market req…Which major market requirements are changing?
How important are their consumer markets to global trade?(net imports, RWE)
Which major market are requiring proof of legality / sustainability?Which major market req…Case Study: Herakles/SGSOC, Cameroon
- Largest oil palm development in Cameroon; started 2011
- Total planned planting 60,000 hectares
- Forest logged in past but remains v dense & intact
- Surrounded by important protected areas w/ Chimps/Eles
- Cleared forest for nursery site illegally without required permissions
- Internal documents also admit that company does not have all required permits
- Dropped plan for RSPO after HCVF assessment criticised
- Leaked internal documents suggest corrupt payments made to secure deal
- Operations officially suspended by govt during Apr/May 2013 (but evidence suggests may have illegally continued)
- Govt now talking about cancellation and re-negotiation, reducing size
![Page 10: Sam Lawson, Earthsight 30 th October 2013](https://reader035.vdocuments.mx/reader035/viewer/2022062322/56814775550346895db4ad59/html5/thumbnails/10.jpg)
Which major market req…Which major market requirements are changing?
How important are their consumer markets to global trade?(net imports, RWE)
Which major market are requiring proof of legality / sustainability?Which major market req…Case Study: Olam, Gabon
- Largest oil palm development in Gabon; started 2011
- Total planned planting 130,000 hectares
- Vast majority of the land allocated by govt thus-far has proven to be HCVF (Ramsar wetlands, primary forests, Great Ape habitat, etc etc)
- Olam committed to protect such areas, but other companies offered such land by govt may not be so circumspect
- Even non-HCV is still relatively intact forest, and clearance will produce circa 4 million tonnes of CO2 emissions (double Gabon’s current annual emissions)
- Pursuing RSPO certification
- Extremely generous terms from govt
![Page 11: Sam Lawson, Earthsight 30 th October 2013](https://reader035.vdocuments.mx/reader035/viewer/2022062322/56814775550346895db4ad59/html5/thumbnails/11.jpg)
Which major market req…Which major market requirements are changing?
How important are their consumer markets to global trade?(net imports, RWE)
Which major market are requiring proof of legality / sustainability?Which major market req…Conclusions
- Unless urgent action is taken now, the Congo basin is likely to follow the same path as SE Asia
- RSPO standards are also too low, and enforcement poor
- Promoting planting on degraded land will only help if coupled with steps to prevent development in forests
- RSPO is not going to prevent this- only 2 of 17 new projects committed to meeting the standards, and one has since dropped plans after facing probs
- REDD+ & FLEGT activities in Congo basin countries have yet to properly recognise the scale of the conversion threat
![Page 12: Sam Lawson, Earthsight 30 th October 2013](https://reader035.vdocuments.mx/reader035/viewer/2022062322/56814775550346895db4ad59/html5/thumbnails/12.jpg)
Which major market req…Which major market requirements are changing?
How important are their consumer markets to global trade?(net imports, RWE)
Which major market are requiring proof of legality / sustainability?Which major market req…What can be done?
- Support NGOs & research orgs to help them closely monitor OP development in the region and act as watchdogs
- Make high social & environmental standards compulsory (inc HCV, HCS, FPIC)
- Make better use of leverage under REDD+
- Provide assistance in mapping of customary land tenure
CONGO BASIN GOVTS
- Map & recognize customary land tenure & user rights
- Improve transparency, including legislating to require automatic publication
DONORS
- Actively promote the necessary changes in government response
- Prioritise development on degraded land and renovation of existing dilapidated plantations
- Any support to private sector to prioritise degraded land MUST be coupled with measures to prevent conversion of forested land
![Page 13: Sam Lawson, Earthsight 30 th October 2013](https://reader035.vdocuments.mx/reader035/viewer/2022062322/56814775550346895db4ad59/html5/thumbnails/13.jpg)
Which major market req…Which major market requirements are changing?
How important are their consumer markets to global trade?(net imports, RWE)
Which major market are requiring proof of legality / sustainability?Which major market req…What can be done?
- Maximise use of existing measures related to timber (VPAs; EUTR) to block access to markets for timber from illegal conversion
- BUT much conversion will probably be legal, and not prevented by VPAs and EUTR: need to block overseas markets to unsustainable wood as well
- Demand-side measures in key markets also need to target palm oil, ensuring it is legally & sustainably produced
DEMAND-SIDE MEASURES
- BUT cannot rely solely on voluntary measures, and RSPO is not enough
- Measures needed to constrain sources of financing to destructive oil palm expansion in Congo basin
FINANCE
![Page 14: Sam Lawson, Earthsight 30 th October 2013](https://reader035.vdocuments.mx/reader035/viewer/2022062322/56814775550346895db4ad59/html5/thumbnails/14.jpg)
Which major market req…Which major market requirements are changing?
How important are their consumer markets to global trade?(net imports, RWE)
Which major market are requiring proof of legality / sustainability?Which major market req…THANK-YOU
- Rainforest Foundation report available in French and English at http://www.rainforestfoundationuk.org/palmoilreport
More information:
- Contact me: sam DOT platypus gmail DOT com