InfoSAWIT, KUALA LUMPUR — Amid the long debate on the palm oil industry, Simon Bruslund, Director of Global Development Copenhagen Zoo, emphasized that sustainability issues cannot stop at certification. According to him, efforts to protect biodiversity and promote sustainable practices in the palm sector must involve all parties — from governments, business actors, to the global community.
In his presentation at an international forum, Simon reviewed the long journey of the palm sector since the emergence of certification schemes like RSPO (Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil) and ISPO (Indonesian Sustainable Palm Oil). He assessed that both initiatives have paved the way for sustainability practices, but there is still a lot of homework to be done.
“Back then, when RSPO was first known, palm was often called the most hated crop — the most hated crop in the world,” said Simon in the Discussion and Screening of the Film “Palm Oil in the Land of Orangutans”, attended by InfoSAWIT, recently. “However, that view is not entirely fair. Many parties in Indonesia and other countries have been trying to improve practices on the ground. What is needed now is understanding that palm can also be managed sustainably, with a balance between economy and ecology.”
Simon emphasized the importance of data-based plantation planning and monitoring of real environmental impacts. According to him, the palm industry should not only focus on meeting formal standards but also measure the results of each conservation activity. “The problem is, so far we have measured more activities — not their impacts. We know how many trainings were conducted, but we don't know if the rivers are cleaner or if wildlife populations like orangutans are increasing,” he stressed.
He explained that in RSPO and ISPO schemes, the management of High Conservation Value (HCV) areas is still a major challenge. Many companies have designated conservation areas, but have not actively managed and restored ecosystems. “We need to move from mere compliance to restoration. From reducing impacts to improving ecosystem conditions,” he said.
Simon also mentioned the importance of maintaining landscape connectivity to prevent habitat fragmentation. He gave an example of orangutan populations threatened with extinction because their habitats are separated into small areas that cannot support wildlife life. “If one group only contains five individuals and there is no interaction with other populations, then the species will die silently,” he said.
Furthermore, Simon reminded that efforts to maintain sustainability are not only the responsibility of governments or industries, but also every individual. “It's too easy to blame the government. In fact, the government's main responsibility is to create space for its citizens to act. We all, as world citizens, have a role in protecting the earth,” he emphasized.
He concluded with a reflective message: “We often wait for the 'fire line' to act, but we all already hold the match ourselves. It's time to stop waiting and start moving together.”
Through his views, Simon Bruslund invites the world to see palm oil no longer as an enemy, but as a commodity that can be part of the global solution — if managed with principles of transparency, collaboration, and intergenerational responsibility. (T2)
