InfoSAWIT, ACEH SINGKIL – Palm oil plantation company, Apical and Yayasan Inisiatif Dagang Hijau (IDH) officially signed memorandum of understanding (MoU) to promote production, protection and inclusion (PPI) Compact in District of Aceh Singkil, Aceh Province. The target of PPI Compact would be realized namely by implementing one main program which is, Sustainable Living Village (SLV) Program.
MoU is the same commitment to encourage the positive social impacts for the people and environment. It is the start to get three year – partnership. The MoU was signed by Program Director IDH, Nassat Idris and Director of Sustainability Apical Group, Bremen Yong Kin Kong. It was witnessed by Drs. Azmi, MAP – Secretary of District of Aceh Singkil and Head of Regional Development Plan Agency District of Aceh Singkil, Ahmad Rivai, SH.
Aceh Singkil plays important roles to protect Leuser ecosystem that lays about 2,6 million hectares of tropical forests and home for Sumatran species, such as, orangutan, rhino, tiger, and elephant. In Aceh Singkil, the illegal logging which happened so fast to get palm oil planting would be the challenge to conserve the vital ecosystem. But deforestation would not directly develop sustainable economic progress and good living source for many independent smallholders.
“District of Aceh Singkil does welcome and appreciate every party that involves in the MoU – IDH Apical, and other communities – that initiated and plays their active roles in SLV. We hope the program would help and escalate the social economic source of living for the people of Aceh Singkil,” Azmi said, as in the official statement to InfoSAWIT, Thursday (19/1/2023)
SLV Program is about to conquer poverty, develop the people by encouraging inclusivity, escalate their sources of living, and also make sure that the environment is still conserved. The initiative which is adjustable with different communities would be developed within the goal, to escalate capacity, empower the people by collaborating with local partners – Yayasan Ekosistem Lestari and Forum Konservasi Leuser.
Director of Sustainability Apical Group, Bremen Yong told that the company understands that different communities would need the different things. Corporate social responsibility is not the only measure for everything. “By SLV, we hope to conquer poverty, escalate and maintain the sources of living of the people, bridge the knowledge and increase (their) capacity,” he said.
Meanwhile Program Director IDH, Nassat Idris said that environmental conservation and social and economic fairness are essential to encourage the long term, positive changes that would deliver impacts to the better environment and income.
“We hope every party could work with Apical as part of coalition to promote sustainable palm oil by focusing inclusivity for the smallholders. The initiative project would expand to contribute in the provincial targets about sustainable palm oil,” he said. Nassat Idris said. (T2)
