Deforestation for Sustainable Palm Oil?

This report is part of our former “Harmful Cases” documentation, where we continuously and concisely recorded human rights violations, violations of international law or environmental destruction caused by companies.

Bumitama Gunajaya Agro (BGA), an Indonesian palm oil producer, cuts down rainforests for huge palm oil plantations. According to the organisation Rainforest Rescue, BGA already established 124,000 hectares of palm oil plantations in Borneo and Sumatra and is clearing another 13,000 hectares for more. Endangered species such as the orangutans can hardly survive in the remaining areas, and Rainforest Rescue´s partner, the International Animal Rescue, said that they found four orangutans half starved in the deforested areas and plantations that had to be transferred to another area.

Rainforest Rescue also raised severe concerns about the Roundtable for Sustainable Palm Oil because BGA is a member of this institution.

BGA is a subsidiary of Bumitama Agri Ltd. which was listed at the Singapore Stock Exchange in April 2012 and which is part of the Harita Group of companies. Wilmar is one of their customers.

 

Rainforest Rescue petition to call for a stop to rainforest destruction and palm oil imports.