WWF Forest Conversion News

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Issue 15 (June 2007) RSPO update The Verification Working Group of the Roundtable on Responsible Palm Oil (RSPO) has now finalized its task and provided the Executive Board with a verification protocol for approval First RTRS General Assembly With over 50 members already on board representing more than 20 per cent of the world soy trade, the newly established Roundtable on Responsible Soy (RTRS) held its first General Assembly in São Paulo on 8-9 May 2007 "I believe sustainable palm oil will reach the market in the near future", says Daud Dharsono, Vice President Director of PT SMART (Indonesia) in an interview with the Forest Conversion News	[371 KB]
Issue 14 (March 2007) Seminar on responsible soy in Berlin On February 28, some 60 participants attended a seminar addressing "Responsible Soy Production". The seminar was organized by WWF, and GTZ (German agency for technical cooperation). "A pro-active dialog brings the best results and opens the eyes", says Christopher Wells in an interview about the Round Table on Responsible Soy (RTRS). He is in charge of Corporate Social Responsibility for Latin America at ABN AMRO and president of the RTRS. RSPO Verification working group public consultation and resolution on supply chain models Various draft documents are now available from the Verification Working Group for public consultation until April 30, 2007. A resolution on guiding principles for evaluation of proposed supply chain models has been approved by the Executive Board.	[408 KB]
Issue 13 (December 2006) Notes from the 4th Conference of the RSPO The fourth annual conference of the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) which took place from 21-22 November 2006 in Singapore, had less tangible outputs than the Roundtable's conference last year when the Principles and Criteria for Sustainable Palm Oil Production were ratified. "It is a matter of urgency to get sustainable palm oil onto the market" In an interview, Dr Gan Lian Tiong, General Manager of the Malaysian oil palm company Kuala Lumpur Kepong tells about the experiences of his company with testing the Principles and Criteria for Sustainable Palm Oil Production. RTRS looking for members! In line with the mandate of the second Round Table on Responsible Soy held in Asunción in August, the Round Table on Responsible Soy (RTRS) was officially established as an international membership organisation.	[370 KB]
Issue 12 (September 2006) Second Round Table Conference on Responsible Soy "Leaders for a Living Planet" award given to the the government of Paraguay "Nothing can replace forests and the role they play" First ever eco-friendly soy arrives in Switzerland	[486 KB]
Issue 11 (June 2006) Consensus reached on impacts of soy production In São Paulo, Brazil, the Round Table on Responsible Soy (RTRS) on 26-28 April 2006 organised a technical workshop to discuss the key social, environmental and economic impacts of soy production, processing and trade. "Solutions for responsible soy production need support from all sectors" In an interview, Alberto Yanosky, CEO of Guyra Paraguay and member of the Organizing Committee of the RTRS explains why the RTRS is important and what role Guyra Paraguay plays. Swedish youth consider their impacts on tropical forests On 3 May, WWF-Sweden and Universeum, a science centre in Gothenburg, organised a "Day for the Future". Several hundred students met with representative from NGOs, businesses, universities and the government to discuss how their lifestyle impacts negatively on the environment.	[630 KB]
Issue 10 (April 2006) Deforestation rates decrease in the Amazon region The Brazilian government announced a decrease in deforestation in the Amazon region for the first time since 2000/2001. Deforestation fell by 30 per cent in the twelve months up to August 2005. "Ensuring a fair deal for smallholders" In an interview, Marcus Colchester, director of the Forest Peoples Programme (UK), explains what role the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil can play for smallholders. Pizarro reserve in Argentina saved from conversion to soy fields Thanks to the work of an NGO coalition including WWF partner Fundación Vida Silvestre Argentina, the provincial Pizarro reserve in Argentina has been saved from conversion to soy cultivation.	[493 KB]
Issue 9 (December 2005) Breakthrough at Third Roundtable Conference on Sustainable Palm Oil At the third Roundtable (RT3) in Singapore on 22-23 November 2005, the members of the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) adopted the Principles and Criteria (P&C) for Sustainable Palm Oil Production with an overwhelming majority. "The RSPO gave us a destination to travel to" says Dr. Simon Lord, Head of Technical Services of the oil palm plantation New Britain Palm Oil Ltd. (Papua New Guinea) in an interview. Soy produced according to Basel Criteria soon available The Brazilian Federation Fetraf -Sul (Workers Federation in Family Agriculture of South Region) and Cotrimaio, a trade cooperative, will offer 50,000 tons of non-genetically modified soy from family farms after the next harvest in May 2006.	[234 KB]
Issue 8 (September 2005) Brazil producer offers responsible soy At a meeting in Zurich on 1 September, a Working Group of companies and NGOs from Germany, Austria and Switzerland discussed further steps towards an efficient, rapid and broad sourcing of soy produced in a responsible way Enlarged Organizing Committee for the Round Table on Responsible Soy On 25-26 August, the expanded Organizing Committee of the Round Table on Responsible Soy met in Buenos Aires to decide on the next steps in this multi-stakeholder process. "Ecology and economy are compatible", says Ernst Spychiger, CEO of Spychiger Oil Trading, a Swiss company, in an interview. Announcement: Third Roundtable Meeting on Sustainable Palm Oil The Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) will hold its third meeting (RT3) and second general assembly on 22-23 November 2005 in Singapore.	[580 KB]
Issue 7 (May 2005) Agreement at first conference of the Roundtable on Sustainable Soy The first conference of the Roundtable on Sustainable Soy took place in Foz do Iguaçu, Brazil, on 17/18 March 2005. The two-day conference attracted more than 200 people, representing both the soy supply chain - from small to big producers, feed mill operators, traders, and retailers - and social and environmental organizations. "The RSPO is committed to building working relations between stakeholders" says Andrew Ng in an interview. Since 1 May 2005, he is the new Secretary-General of the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO). Some 65 per cent of industrial margarine and fats in Switzerland are sustainable The Swiss company Grüninger AG, a producer of margarine and fats for the wholesale trade, has shifted its palm oil use to sustainable palm oil. Production of sustainable soy does not cost more than conventional soy This is the result of a study on the feasibility of the Basel Criteria for Responsible Soy Production.	[322 KB]
Issue 5 (November 2004) Second Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil a Success March 17-18, 2005: First Roundtable Meeting on Sustainable Soy Basel Criteria for Responsible Soy Production "I wish to see the seeds of a sustainable soy industry for years to come" Social Pact for the Upper Paraná Atlantic Forest in Paraguay launched Food and Drink Association is supportive of the RSPO Publications: From Principles to Action - Applying the Product Sustainability Toolbox Media review: IFC defends Brazil soy loan, greens attack; UK firms sign up to sustainable palm oil initiative; They hailed it as a wonderfood	[342 KB]
Issue 4 (September 2004) Managing the soy boom - growth without further conversion Coop cooperates with WWF "We want to get soy from sustainable sources" Roundtable on sustainable palm oil established Friends of the Earth launches report and campaign on palm oil IPOC cooperates with WWF Indonesia Brazilian NGOs develop criteria for sustainable soy DOEN helps fund projects on sustainable palm oil and soy HSBC launches guidelines for forestry sector Brazil's Cerrado may disappear by 2030 Consequences of food production Publications: South East Asian Newsletter for Sustainable Palm Oil; World Agriculture and the Environment; Soy - not this way!? Media review: Tesso Nilo documentary featured on German television; HSBC's dubious involvement in the Indonesian palm oil sector; Brazilian soy producers face increasing pressure	[198 KB]
Issue 3 (February 2004) Mato Grosso a hot spot of soy expansion - and deforestation "A roundtable can shift the soy industry into a more sustainable mode" Dutch companies attend NGO workshop on soy Dozens of companies are committed to sustainable palm oil New governance structure for the roundtable on sustainable palm oil Migros criteria used to audit Malaysian producer Coop Switzerland bakes with sustainable palm oil Publications: Companies Know Too Little About Palm Oil Supply Chains; How oil palm and soybeans con-tribute to critical habitat loss; It's possible: Growth without negative impacts; Facts on Palm Oil and Soy Media review: Indonesia needs to strengthen its Forest Restoration Initiative; Soybeans - relentless foe of the Amazon jungle	[554 KB]
Issue 2 (August 2003) WWF Welcomes First Steps towards Sustainable Palm Oil Media review: Pledge to Establish Common Sustainable Production Stand; Palm Oil Forum Sends Message Across; Investor Perkebunan Kelapa Sawit Banyak Timbulkan Masalah (in Bahasa)	[15 KB]
Issue 1 (March 2003) Soy and palm oil threaten tropical forests - WWF seeks solutions Swiss supermarket does pioneering work for sustainable palm oil "Check your oil" - consumers demand transparency Sweden - Karlshamns promotes sustainable palm oil Open letter to the Indonesian embassy in Sweden Publications: Oil palm plantations in Indonesia continue to expand; The EU is South America's most important market for soybean exports Media review: Brazil on the way to becoming the world's largest soybean producer; New road in the Amazon region paves way for soybean cultivation	[120 KB]