Ref: Not only destroy rainforests but also make few people very rich.
http://www.sify.com/news/india-s-palm-oil-demand-destroying-indonesia-s-rainforests-news-environment-ne0rSmfdgga.html
India's palm oil demand destroying Indonesia's rainforests?
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Last Updated: Fri, Apr 26, 2013 17:54 hrs
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New Delhi, Apr 26 (IBNS) Environmental organization Greenpeace India has
demanded that all Indian palm oil importers and corporate consumers immediately
stop palm oil sourcing from Indonesian companies like Duta Palma who make palm
oil by destroying forests and tiger habitat in Indonesia.
An investigative report issued by Greenpeace Indonesia released on Thursday
links India's growing palm oil imports and corporate apathy to Duta Palma's
destruction of hundreds of acres of Indonesian rainforests and tiger habitat in
complete disregard of Indonesian government's moratorium on such activities in
the rainforest.
Big Indian corporates like Ruchi Soya, Adani -Wilmar, Godrej Industries, Parle,
Britannia are among many who use Indonesian palm oil in their products on a
large scale.
"Duta Palma's dirty oil could well be entering into their supply chains. Yet,
so far, no Indian company has taken any visible steps to clean up their supply
chain, to delink their brands from the large scale deforestation," said
Greenpeace.
"It is astonishing to witness the apathy and absolute irresponsibility in the
Indian corporate sector. Indian companies are not only destroying tiger
habitats and forests in India for coal mining but now they are going a step
further by importing palm oil from questionable sources in Indonesia like Duta
Palma. Indian companies should adopt a zero deforestation policy instead," said
Nandikesh Sivalingam, forest campaigner for Greenpeace India.
Greenpeace India estimates India imports about 9 million tonnes of palm oil in
2012-13. India is the largest importer of palm oil in the world.
Field investigations by Greenpeace International reveal that Duta Palma annexed
and cleared hundreds of hectares of forest outside the official boundaries of
one of its concessions in Sumatra, Indonesia.
Investigators found that Indonesia's Ministry of Forestry has not permitted the
company to operate in this particular area, which is mapped as peatland, tiger
habitat. This is a clear violation of the current forest moratorium.
The company has failed to answer Greenpeace Southeast Asia's requests for
further information about its operations, the organization said.
Duta Palma has a long history of deforestation, community conflict, illegality,
and non-compliance with Roundtable on Sustainable Oil (RSPO) regulations.
"Sustainability certificates are only worth the paper they're written on if
they're not enforced and trusted. Unless repeat offenders such as Duta Palma
are sanctioned or expelled and the standard is tightened to stop deforestation,
the RSPO and its standards will rightly be seen as a toothless tiger," said
Wirendro Sumargo, Forest Campaigner, Greenpeace Indonesia.
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