SKEPHI needs information

SKEPHI Support Office Europe is an official subsidiary of Network for Forest Conservation in Indonesia (SKEPHI) in Europe. Besides being assigned to international campaigning to preserve forests in Indonesia, the office also conducts and prepares studies and strategic papers, the results of which are to be made available to relevant and interested non-governmental as well as governmental institutions.

Recently our office started a study on the use of palm and palm kernel oil as a fuel substitute in Southeast Asian countries, such as Indonesia. Early this year, our study group visited North Sumatra and parts of Malaysia to learn about the palm oil plantation and palm oil production system.

As the areas converted into palm oil plantations are growing fast in Indonesia, there is a heavy impact on the environment. It seems the total planted area has now reached about 2.2 million hectares and in the near future will increase to about four million hectares (our findings). People, including NGO's and government officials dealing with developmental issues in Indonesia have expressed interest in a complete picture of palm oil plantation, its industry as well its impact on the environment.

To complete our study we need more information, especially from local people affected by, and local administration engaged in, the palm oil plantation scheme and industry:

How far do investors abide by environmental laws concerning the palm oil industry? The laws deal with:

* palm oil effluent.

* burning of empty fruit bunches.

* conservation of protected forests and wild life.

* water erosion: are there cases with impacts on the environment?

* use of fertilizers and pesticides: are there cases with an impact on workers and local population?

What is the percentage of newly planted areas originating from freshly cleared forests?

Which local community organizations, non as well as governmental institutions, are willing to help us with relevant information? Do these institutions deal with these problems and who is interested in learning our final findings?

Your information could be compiled and written in Bahasa Indonesia and sent to: SKEPHI Support Office Europe, Atten. H. Junaid, Research and Policy Study Division, Nannostraat 19-III, 1061 EK Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

HASJRUL JUNAID

Coordinator, SSO-Europe

Amsterdam