PRESS RELEASE: Indonesian Smallholders show they can be Deforestation-Free and Access Global Markets

Jakarta, 24th June 2024. A toolkit that allows Indonesian smallholder farmers to demonstrate they are Deforestation-Free and protecting their forests was launched today, paving the way for smallholder commodities to access global markets that are requiring Deforestation-Free such as the EU.

“Smallholders are often blamed for deforestation in Indonesia and then excluded from markets. However our work with smallholders is proving that they can be deforestation-free. We hope that through using the toolkit our smallholder members will have fairer market access and price for their products, and they will also support the governments’ commitment to reducing deforestation,” said Sabarudin, chairman of the Indonesian Oil Palm Smallholder Union (SPKS).

“We smallholder farmers who are members of the Poyo Tono Hibun Community as Dayak Hibun people strongly support this Deforestation-Free Toolkit. I saw for myself that this Toolkit was really developed based on input from smallholders, indigenous peoples and local communities, when the Toolkit was piloted in West Kalimantan. I have seen the positive impact myself. We need help from all parties so that smallholders can implement best practices and continue to conserve forests without being forced to leave our local wisdom and culture behind,” said Valens Andi, smallholder farmer from Sanggau Regency of West Kalimantan.

The Deforestation-Free toolkit for Indonesian smallholders has been developed over 6 years through a collaboration of the High Carbon Stock Approach (HCSA), the Indonesia Oil Palm Smallholders Union (SPKS), Farmers for Forest Protection Foundation (4F), Greenpeace and the High Conservation Value Network (HCVN). This included 4 years of field trials with smallholders in West Kalimantan to ensure the toolkit is simple to apply and well adapted to local community conditions.

“The EUDR and other international regulations simply cannot afford to disregard the vast potential for the contribution of smallholders to deforestation-free supply chains. The HCSA Smallholder toolkit enables small-scale farmers to prove they can produce commodities and conserve the forest and biodiversity while respecting the rights of Indigenous Peoples and local communities, therefore becoming a key link of sustainable supply chains and markets when partnering with large producers and buyers and as part of sustainable productive landscapes,” said Jesús Cordero, Executive Director of High Carbon Stock Approach.

“We worked in the village in partnership with the smallholders to develop the toolkit, including women and youth, and can see the forest that is being protected and improvements in their livelihoods. We are now looking to expand implementation of the toolkit throughout Indonesia, including the incentives and benefits for smallholder to protect their forests,” said Tirza Pandelaki, Executive Director of Farmers for Forest Protection Foundation (4F)

“Deforestation remains a major issue for Indonesia but with this toolkit smallholders will be able to support the Indonesian government in meeting its climate change and forest conservation targets. Greenpeace collaborated with the toolkit development in particular so it will allow smallholders to demonstrate they are deforestation-free, protecting their forests, and then able to meet the EU Deforestation Regulation requirements,” said Kiki Taufik, Global Project Leader of Indonesian Forest Campaign.

The Deforestation-Free smallholder toolkit is a participatory step-by-step guide for smallholder groups. It is rights-based through requiring the community to give their Free Prior and Informed  Consent (FPIC) for the different steps, and applies simple methods to identify and map all the forests and land cover on the village lands. It strengthens local institutions and governance of natural resources, and applies management and monitoring tools to protect the forest, along with incentives and benefits to the community to support the protection.

Read the Zero-Deforestation Guide for Indonesian Smallholders at these links: 

 

Media Contact:

Tirza Pandelaki, Farmer for Forest Protection Foundation, +62 813-4292-0706

 

Sabaruddin, the Indonesian Oil Palm Smallholder Union (SPKS), +62 853-9899-5217

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Development Manager

Natalia Merchan

Natalia Merchan joined HCSA as a Business Development consultant in 2020. She is responsible for fundraising in general and building relationships with new donors. Natalia has over 10 years of fundraising experience with foundations, major donors, institutional and corporate donors. Prior to joining HCSA, she worked with Greenpeace as a major gifts’ advisor raising funds for the forests campaign. She holds an MSc. in Environmental development from the University of Amsterdam.

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Kirsti Drain

Kirsti joined in 2022 and is responsible for visual digital content production for HCSA’s new website, digital assets for all communication channels, as well as design for corporate reports and bids. She has over 20 years of experience in design and content across web, digital and print channels in a broad range of sectors. She previously worked as senior graphic designer for Capital City College Group in London and digital designer and content editor for the Commonwealth. She has a BA in Film and Photographic Arts from the University of Westminster.

Outreach Executive

Saffira Mohamed

Saffira Mohamed joined the High Carbon Stock Approach in 2022 as Membership Officer. She supports the Membership Outreach Manager and Membership Committee. Saffira has experience in avifauna surveying and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Forestry from University Putra Malaysia with a focus on Forest Management.

Communications Manager

Leslie Jewell

Leslie is responsible for producing and managing HCSA’s internal and external communications. Her background is journalism, starting as a reporter and then current affairs producer with BBC World Service Radio and BBC Radio 4. She moved into international TV news, working in Russia, Ukraine and Central Asia as Bureau Producer in Moscow for BBC News and covered New York and Washington as North American Bureau Producer for Reuters. She studied politics at Cardiff University and speaks French, Italian and Russian.

Head of Development

Jesús Cordero

Jesús Cordero is our Head of Development. He leads on the development and deployment of our Membership Strategy, coordinates the Membership Committee, and supports the development of our Information Management, Communications, Fundraising and HR functions. Jesús has extensive experience with membership and communications management and innovations as well as promoting smallholders’ livelihoods in the tropics via sustainable land use management approaches. Jesús speaks English and Spanish, and he holds a degree in Forestry, an MSc. in Agroforestry (Cranfield University), an MSc. in Communications for Innovation and Development (University of Reading) and an M.A. in Translation Studies (University of Portsmouth).

Landscape and monitoring manager

Jonathan Byers

Jonathan Byers is responsible for managing the HCSA Global Forest Watch Pro monitoring platform. Jonathan has a diverse background in natural and physical science research, cartography and GIS, non-profit management, education, and digital storytelling. Most recently he led a National Geographic funded project to study the habitat and behaviour of the endangered Matschies’s tree-kangaroo in Papua New Guinea to assist community conservation efforts. He previously worked on cartography projects for Panthera to provide high-resolution maps for tiger anti-poaching efforts in Malaysia, and for the National Park Service mapping glacier retreat in California and Alaska. Jonathan holds an MSc. Degree in Geography from the University of Montana.

Administrative Officer

Anis Farhana Wahab

Anis Farhana Wahab is the Administrative Officer of the High Carbon Stock Approach. She supports the HCSA Executive Director, HCSA Executive Committee and working groups on HCSA governance and priority workstreams. She holds a Bachelor of Science (Major in Biology with Minor in Psychology) from Carleton University.

Quality manager

Daneetha Muniandy

Daneetha Muniandy joined the HCS Approach in 2020 as the Quality Assurance Officer. She is responsible for supporting HCSA Grievance Mechanism Unit, HCSA trial applications and other HCSA QA work. Daneetha has experience in forest conservation and holds both, a diploma and degree in Forestry from University Putra Malaysia (UPM).

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Lee Kuan Lih

Lee Kuan Lih joined HCSA as a Finance Manager in 2020. He is responsible for the company’s bookkeeping, budgets, and cash flow control. Prior to joining HCSA, he was a finance manager in Helikonia. He was also in charge of financial matters at Apple Crumby & Fish, a start-up e-commerce platform for essential baby products and had previously worked as an auditor. Kuan Lih holds a Bachelor of Business and Commerce (majoring in accounting and finance) from Monash University, Malaysia. He is also a Certified Practising Accountant as a member of CPA, Australia.

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Adrian Choo

Adrian Choo is the Executive Director of the High Carbon Stock Approach. He leads the development and implementation of HCSA’s strategic business plan, oversees the HCSA membership and Secretariat and fosters partnerships to drive HCSA’s impact and growth. Adrian has extensive experience in tropical forest certification, palm oil sustainability and high conservation value areas. He led the Sustainable Markets Programme Strategy at WWF-Malaysia and was Chair of FSC Malaysia for several years. Adrian has a BA in Forestry and a PhD in Biocomposite Technology from Universiti Putra Malaysia, where he was also a Post-doctoral Research Fellow.