| 12 February 2024 | PT PWP | The author team of the scientific study "Damage to Habitat and Biological Ecological Systems and Fulfilment of NDPE Commitments of Dharma Satya Nusantara Group Companies in the PT Pilar Wana Persada Study Area" requested clarification/refutation before the results of the study are said to be published in a scientific journal. | DSNG’s verification and clarification are contained in DSNG's response letter in this link | Firdaus Pajar, SH
Yesaya, S.T, M.M, M.Ikom
Muhamat Hidayat
Intan Yulianti S.Ap.
| N/A | In the process | |
Description of Case Process / Progress:
- On 12 February 2024 DSNG received an email via info@dsngroup.co.id requesting clarification/rebuttal of the results of study on PT Pilar Wanapersana (PT PWP). The study highlights:
- PT PWP's involvement in the killing of orangutans and gibbons, by employing local people (2010-2015)
- Company activities that cause damage to river systems, drying up of groundwater levels within the HGU, as well as air and noise pollution.
- Non-compliance with NDPE policy with respect to monitoring the fulfilment of workers' fundamental rights throughout the supply chain and by contractors.
- Non-compliance with NDPE policy in terms of ensuring that there is no deforestation associated with the FFB purchased by the company.
- DSNG responded to the request with a letter of response and clarification on 19 February 2024, as well as an invitation to dialogue
- On 24-25 February 2024, DSNG representatives met the complainant and had a dialogue on the background and purpose of the scientific study.
- DSNG sent a request to upload the study paper along with the name of the writing team on 15 March 2023, and was responded by the head of the writing team with permission on 18 March 2024 by confirmation through a statement letter on 26 March 2024.
- DSNG replied to the authors on 8 April 2024 thanking them for their permission, explaining the grievance mechanism, and informing them that HCV-related data and DSNG's sustainability performance can be accessed through the RSPO website, &Green, and other public domains. DSNG hopes that the authors can use the information verified by the accredited institutions in their scientific work.
- The head of the writing team did not respond to the email officially, instead sending a chat via whatsapp to the CSR Head of the West Kalimantan Region, informing him that he would submit a complaint to SRI-Kehati.
- The head of the team of authors sent a response letter on 16 April 2024, responding to the DSNG's request for detailed information with an exchange of detailed data. The author also submitted allegations of NDPE violations in the form of deforestation and labour rights violations by PT PWP's contractors. Upon further verification, the land clearing in question was outside PT PWP's HGU, and DSNG explained the applicable contractor compliance mechanism. This letter was responded by DSNG on 6 May 2024.
- The author team leader sent another response letter on 8 May 2024, providing verification conducted by DSN regarding the omission of alleged deforestation and labour rights violations by PT PWP from data in the ISPO and RSPO domains. In the same letter, the author team leader conveyed that fundamental improvements should be made to the principles of CGG (Good Corporation Government) and the implementation of obligations to former employees.
- DSNG sent a reply letter acknowledging the information provided by the lead author on 12 July 2024, explaining that DSNG had conducted further verification and investigation into the matters reported. On 18 July 2024, the lead author responded by sending a reply letter dated 17 May 2024 requesting clarification on the discrepancies in deforestation coordinates at PT PWP and the intimidation received.
- DSNG responded by sending a reply letter on 26 July 2024, stating that the location of the alleged deforestation was outside of PT PWP's Cultivation Rights (HGU) and Lamanku Sukses Bersama Cooperative Partnership Concession. Regarding the author's report of intimidation, DSNG reiterated the company's zero-tolerance policy on intimidation and said that the author could file a report with the relevant authorities if any party intimidated the author.
- The response letter from DSNG was replied by the Team Leader on August 1, 2024, highlighting the discrepancies between the reported and verified deforestation coordinates at PT PWP, the authors' reporting to the RSPO of NDPE policy violations including land clearing in riparian areas, and the intimidation received by members of the research team, which the team reported to the German and Dutch governments. The letter also stated that the results of the research will be presented at a scientific conference in Norway and the research will also be published in a journal or paper on December 25, 2024, with a revision deadline of August 5, 2024.
- DSNG responded to the letter on August 26, 2024. In this letter, DSNG responded to the coordinate discrepancies submitted by conducting re- measurement using two devices with different units, which are UTM DD (decimal degree) and UTM DMS (degree, minute, second) at the indicated location. In addition, DSNG also invited researchers to come directly to the location to conduct joint measurements, if they still had doubts about the results of this clarification. Regarding NDPE policy and land clearing in riparian areas, DSNG has conducted compensation procedures that have been reported and approved by RSPO. DSNG also verified that the rivers around their mills do not dry up. In addition, DSNG rejected allegations of intimidation and confirmed that there were no violations. DSNG also supports responsible information disclosure and respects the rights of researchers to publish their papers in accordance with academic procedures.
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| 22 January 2024 | PT DWT | Deforestation alert in Melenyu 4 Estate of PT DWT since 2018 by Earthworm Foundation (EF) | The area was cleared by farmers/planters from Long Belteq Hamlet, Nehas Liah Bing Village for farming. | Golden Agri-Resoures (GAR) | 49.14 | Finish
Clarification letter sent by DSNG on 23
January 2024, additional data requested in the form of field verification results and deforestation alert verification form sent and received on 25
January 2024. | |
Description of Case Process/Progress:
- On 22 January 2024, DSNG received an email from Ghina Syafira Shofia (PT GAR representative) asking for indications of deforestation in PT Dewata Sawit Nusantara from 2018-2023 covering 49.41 Ha.
- DSNG has conducted field verification on 23 September 2022 of deforestation alerts.
- The clarification letter was sent on 23 February 2023 to email sender and was accepted with the addition of the latest field evidence.
- DSNG resubmits results and updated verification form by 25 January 2024.
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| 8 February 2023 | PT PWP | Deforestation alert at two points inside PT PWP's concession | The first point is inside the concession, cleared by the community for farming.
The second point is inside the concession which is in the process of releasing part of the HGU due to changes in the Central Kalimantan RTRWP.
| Golden Agri-Resoures (GAR) | 3.25 | Finish
Clarification letter sent on 13 February
2023 | |
Description of Case Process/Progress:
- On 8 February 2023 DSNG received an email from Sinar Mas Agribusiness and Food asking for clarification on indications of deforestation within PT PWP's concession in the period January-March and June-August 2022.
- DSNG conducted field verification on 9 February 2023.
- Clarification letter sent on 13 February 2023 to email sender and acknowledged as received.
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| 31 January 2023 | PT DWT | Deforestation alert in Melenyu Estate 4 PT DWT | The area was cleared by farmers/planters from Long Belteq Hamlet, Nehas Liah Bing Village for farming | Golden Agri-Resoures (GAR)
| 2.00 | Finish
The clarification letter, land verification report and village head statement, were sent on 8 February 2023. DSNG
completed with a statement of not receiving FFB from the
cleared land on 13 February 2023.
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Description of Case Process/Progress:
- On 31 January 2023 DSNG received an email from GAR asking for clarification on indications of deforestation in PT DWT's Melenyu Estate 4.
- DSNG sent a full statement to GAR on 1 February 2023, explaining the land that had been cleared by the community since the fourth quarter of 2021 for settlements and livelihoods (farming and agriculture), including the chronology that DSNG was in the process of revoking the HCV status of the area with RSPO, along with the dialogue process with the community. DSNG and RSPO have conducted a reassessment of the HCV area in December 2022 and public consultation in February 2023.
- GAR replied on 2 February 2023, requesting a land verification report and village head statement on land clearing, to which DSNG responded on 8 February 2023.
- On 13 February 2023, DSNG completed the verification report with declaration document of not receiving FFB from the cleared land.
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| 5 January 2023 | PT PUL | A report by TheTreeMap published at https://nusantara-atlas.org lists PT PUL as one of the palm oil companies responsible for deforestation. | DSNG found no indication of deforestation within the cadastral location of PT PUL's HGU.
However, it did detect land clearing in Block B, which since 2015 is no longer part of PT PUL's area.
| TheTreeMap | Outside the concession area | Finish
TheTreeMap reconfirmed that the area in question was outside PT PUL's
concession and amended its report
accordingly. | |
Description of Case Process/Progress:
- A report titled "Palm Oil deforestation in Indonesia levels off in 2022" published on the Nusantara Atlas blog on 5 January lists PT Putra Utama Lestari as one of the companies that has deforested 83 Ha.
- In response to this report, DSNG wrote to TheTreeMap (as the owner of Nusantara Atlas blog) on 19 January 2023 explaining that DSNG had conducted clarification and field verification and stated that no deforestation had taken place. Detected land clearing is in an area that used to be part of the PT PUL concession.
- In response to DSNG's letter, TheTreeMap replied on 20 January 2023, by including a link to a deforestation map whose coverage they have developed.
- In further response, DSNG on 27 January 2023 sent a cadastral shapefile of PT PUL's HGU to TheTreeMap to emphasize that the area position in question was outside the HGU of PT PUL.
- On 31 January 2023 TheTreeMap stated that it had examined the data provided by DSNG and amended its report accordingly
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| 22 July 2022 | PT BAS | Deforestation alert on supplier plantation site of PKS 10 - BAS (PT BAS) | The area is an area that was opened for partnership plantations and has previously been
carried out an NPP
| Golden Agri-Resoures (GAR) | 8.00 | Finish
Clarification letter sent on 27 July 2022 | |
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| 19 July 2022 | PT PWP | Alert deforestation on supplier plantation sites from PKS 5 - PWP (KM) | Field verification conducted | Golden Agri-Resoures (GAR) | Outside the concession area | Finish
Verification report has been sent to the Buyer in September 2022 | |
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| 19 July 2022 | PT PWP | Deforestation alert on supplier plantation site of PKS 5 - PT PWP (KM) | The land clearing location is outside PT PWP's concession | Golden Agri-Resoures (GAR) | Outside the concession area | Finish
Two clarification letters dated 31
July 2022 and
29 August 2022 | |
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| 5 July 2022 | PT DWT | Deforestation alert on the site of the supplier plantation of PKS 6 - DSN (PT DWT). | Two spots are on the riverbank, opened by the community for farming. | Golden Agri-Resoures (GAR) | Outside the concession area | Finish
Clarification letter sent on 01 March 2022 along with Field
Verification report. | |
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| 2 July 2022 | PT BPN | Deforestation alerts on supplier plantation sites from PKS 9 - PT BPN (PT NIKP) | The deforestation sites are outside PT BPN's supplier plantations | Golden Agri-Resoures (GAR) | Outside the concession area | Finish
Letter of Clarification dated 14 July
2022 | |
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| 25 May 2022 | PT PWP | Deforestation alert on supplier plantation site of PKS 5 - PT PWP | Points detected are in concessions that are in the process of releasing part of the HGU due to changes in the Central Kalimantan RTRWP | Golden Agri-Resoures (GAR) | Outside the concession area | Finish
The Clarification Letter was signed on 30
May 2022 along with the Field
Verification report.
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| 22 February 2022 | PT DWT | Buyer requests clarification regarding indications of deforestation at PT DWT from 2016 | -Two spots are on riverbanks, opened by communities for farming
-The other two spots are firebreak lines that were created during
the 2017 fires.
| Golden Agri-Resoures (GAR) | 3.80 | Finish
Clarification letter sent on 01 March 2022 along with Field Verification report | |
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