SUBJECT
On 20 April 2022, RAN released an article claimed that a retired public servant named Mr Bukhary responsible for deforestation inside the boundaries of the Gunung Leuser National Park in an area now located in the district of Aceh Tamiang. RAN also reported that Bukhary’s new palm oil plantation area is adjacent to the concession controlled by PT Sisirau which has been exposed for the destruction of orangutan habitat.
The article also reported on illegal plantation encroaching into peat forest inside Rawa Singkil Wildlife Reserve.
PROGRESS
April 2022
Based on spatial analysis and supply chain monitoring conducted by Apical team, we confirmed that Apical is not sourcing from Mr Bukhary, PT Sisirau as well as from the area where the clearing reported in the Rawa Singkil Wildlife Reserve.
Although none of these sources are connected to Apical supply chain, we will ensure that these sources not entering into Apical supply chain in the future.
September 2022
In August 2022, Apical engaged an independent 3rd party to conduct a field investigation aimed at ascertaining whether NDPE non-compliant suppliers in Aceh Tamiang and Langkat districts are in Apical’s supply chain.
The outcome was as follows:
- There were 3 separate plantations owned by 3 individuals including Mr.Bukhary, that may be responsible for land clearing carried out between 2016 and 2021,. These plantations are not part of any corporate groups and have not adopted an NDPE policy, are not RSPO members, nor have they carried out HCV and HCS assessments.
- The FFB’s from the 3 plantations are sent to the Tenggulun ramp which supplies a few mills in the area.
- Since 2020, Apical has not purchased from the mills identified that source from the Tenggulun ramp.
Apical maintains it’s position that Mr. Bukhary or any of the plantations and mills identified as NDPE non-compliant in the field investigation, are not in our supply chain.
