RSPO Certification.pdf

PT Mustika Sembuluh, a subsidiary of Wilmar International, obtained RSPO certification in 2010 for its mill and three estates in Central Kalimantan. The certification was awarded after a assessment by PT TUV Rheinland, which identified major non-conformances, including land disputes, lack of identification and documented agreements with local communities, and lack of monitoring and surveillance of High Conservation Values (HCVs).

The company proposed corrective actions for the non-conformities, which were reportedly resolved. However, local communities in the area have experienced land conflicts and forced displacements due to oil palm expansion since 1996. The concession of PT Mustika Sembuluh was chosen for assessment due to its potential to provide positive lessons on the implementation of Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC) in oil palm concessions.

Central Kalimantan, where PT Mustika Sembuluh is located, is a province in Indonesian Borneo with a diverse geography and climate. The region has seen extensive deforestation and land conversion for oil palm plantations, with over 1.5 million hectares allocated to oil palm in the East Kotawaringin district alone. The district has a complex history, with various rulers and colonial powers influencing the region over the centuries.

The Dayak people, indigenous to the region, have a rich cultural heritage and traditional land tenure systems. However, their rights and interests have often been neglected in the face of oil palm expansion and other development projects. The history of the region is marked by power struggles, colonial influence, and the spread of Islam, which has shaped the social and cultural landscape of Central Kalimantan.