Urgent Action Required to Address Transboundary Haze and Fires in Southeast Asia
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, (ANTARA/PRNewswire) - The Secretariat of the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) is deeply concerned and saddened by the severe fires affecting several regions in Indonesia and the adverse impacts they have had on local communities, public health, wildlife, and livelihoods. We share the profound concern and sense of urgency felt throughout the region.
Our team is working around the clock, utilising the Hotspot Hub and the satellite-based FireWatch warning system, and coordinating directly on the ground to track hotspots, verify fire incidents within and around certified concessions, and support affected members.
We recognise that some RSPO members are facing significant challenges on the ground. Their primary priority at this time is to protect lives, control fires, assist communities, and work alongside local forestry authorities, wildlife rescue organisations, and NGOs to protect vulnerable areas, such as orangutan habitats and conservation zones. The Secretariat is actively coordinating with affected members to identify the causes of the fires and will determine the necessary actions in accordance with our Standards once detailed reports are available.
RSPO Standards strictly prohibit the use of fire for land clearing or preparation. Our approach is designed to increase transparency and accountability in the prevention and management of forest fires, open burning, and the use of fire for pest control. Fires can occur due to various factors, both natural and resulting from human activity. RSPO-certified plantations implement strict fire management protocols and have measures in place to prevent and address fire risks and incidents within and around their plantation areas. RSPO members are expected to manage fires occurring up to approximately two kilometres from their concession boundaries, but in practice, they often act far beyond that area to assist surrounding communities.
RSPO Standards also mandate health and safety Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), which require members to monitor air quality, adjust field activities, cease work requiring heavy physical exertion, and provide respiratory protective equipment that must be used when air pollution levels rise.
RSPO members worldwide continue to closely monitor the current fire situation with great concern. We urge affected RSPO members to continue increasing vigilance through intensive monitoring, patrols, and reporting, while simultaneously providing support to workers and local communities, as well as to conservation efforts impacted by fires and haze.
With extreme dry weather and El Niño conditions expected to intensify and persist, managing this crisis requires large-scale coordinated action. RSPO calls for a shared commitment from all relevant sectors, transparent cross-border cooperation, and full, sustained attention to early management efforts.
We also express our deepest gratitude to the volunteers, emergency responders, and organisations working tirelessly to protect communities and wildlife amidst these highly challenging conditions.
About RSPO:
The Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) is a global partnership dedicated to making palm oil sustainable. Established in 2004, RSPO is a multi-stakeholder non-profit organisation that brings together members from across the palm oil value chain, including palm oil producers, processors, and traders, consumer goods manufacturers, retailers, banks and investors, environmental or nature conservation NGOs, and social or development NGOs.
As a partnership that drives progress and creates positive impact, RSPO facilitates global change to make palm oil production and consumption sustainable. To drive change, we communicate the environmental and social benefits. To realise progress, we encourage collaboration. To provide assurance, we set certification standards.
RSPO is registered as an international association in Zurich, Switzerland, with headquarters in Malaysia and Indonesia, and offices in China, Colombia, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, and the United States.