North Penajam Paser, 2 March 2026 — Apical’s Sustainable Living Village (SLV) program, implemented in partnership with the Earthworm Foundation, has reached a key milestone with the Wana Makmur Forest Farmer Group (KTH). The group successfully secured a 127-hectare social forestry permit, which was formally handed over by Forestry Minister Raja Juli Antoni during a ceremony in Ibu Kota Nusantara (IKN), on Feb. 28, 2026.
The 32-member group has been supported through the SLV program since 2024. Designed as a sustainable rural development model, SLV aims to balance socio-economic impact with environmental protection, while empowering local communities through sustainable agricultural practices.
Through this approach, smallholders receive guidance not only in adopting sustainable palm oil practices, but also in diversifying their livelihoods. One example is cacao cultivation, which provides an additional source of income while helping reduce pressure on forest areas.
“We are proud to see the support provided since 2024 now formally recognized through this social forestry permit,” said Agus Wiastono, Apical’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Manager. “Together with our partners, we will continue to support the group in developing management plans and ensuring the area is managed responsibly, while strengthening community livelihoods.”
The social forestry permit provides legal certainty for communities to manage and utilize forest areas. In his remarks, Forestry Minister Raja Juli Antoni emphasized the importance of granting legal access while ensuring forest conservation.
“With this social forestry permit, smallholders are given access to manage and utilize forest areas. Through this access, you gain legal certainty to optimize the function of forests in your respective areas. We hope we can continue to preserve our forests together,” he said.
Through an agroforestry approach, the Wana Makmur group will develop cacao under forest canopy, allowing members to generate additional income without clearing new land. Since February 2025, the group has been supported in cacao seedling cultivation and the establishment of demonstration plots as part of preparing to manage the area. Beyond cacao, the group also plans to diversify crops with fruit commodities that have strong potential in local markets.
“Agroforestry enables communities to maintain forest cover while developing productive livelihoods,” said Bahrun, Operational Manager at Earthworm Foundation. “We will continue to support the group in strengthening technical capacity and gradually improving market access.”
Tugiman, head of the Wana Makmur Forest Farmer Group, said the permit provides greater certainty for the group to move forward. “With this permit, we are more confident in managing the area through agroforestry. We want to ensure the forest is preserved while delivering long-term benefits for our families,” he said.
In addition to receiving the permit, the Wana Makmur Forest Farmer Group was also granted Rp50 million in social forestry development support, which will be used to strengthen operations and advance the group’s business activities.
Moving forward, Apical and the Earthworm Foundation will continue working closely with the group and local stakeholders to support the implementation of its management plan, strengthen governance, and ensure the long-term sustainability of its agroforestry initiatives.
About Apical
Apical is a leading vegetable oil processor with an expanding global footprint. Our vertically integrated mid-stream refining and value-added downstream processing makes us an integral supplier that supports the needs of various industries namely food, feed, oleochemicals and renewable fuel, including sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) which enables a great reduction of CO2 emissions.
With integrated assets in strategic locations spanning Indonesia, China and Spain, Apical operates numerous refineries, oleochemical plants, renewable fuel plants and kernel crushing plants. Through joint ventures and strategic partnerships, Apical also has processing and distribution operations in Brazil, India, Pakistan, Philippines, Middle East, Africa, USA and Vietnam.
Apical’s growth is built on the foundations of sustainability and transparency, and motivated by our strong belief that we can contribute to a circular economy for a more meaningful impact, even as we continue to grow our business and deliver innovative solutions to our customers.
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