InfoSAWIT, KUALA LUMPUR — Global commitment to biodiversity conservation and sustainable consumption gets a new boost. The Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) together with Nanjing Hongshan Forest Zoo (Hongshan Zoo) officially signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to establish a long-term strategic partnership in efforts to preserve biodiversity and increase public awareness about sustainable palm oil in China.
The signing of this cooperation took place on the sidelines of the RSPO Annual Conference, Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RT2025), held on November 3, 2025 in Kuala Lumpur. This moment marks an important step in cross-sector collaboration to strengthen conservation efforts and promote responsible consumption practices at a global level.
Through this agreement, RSPO and Hongshan Zoo will develop various joint initiatives to strengthen biodiversity protection, enhance public education, and promote the use and recognition of RSPO-certified sustainable palm oil (Certified Sustainable Palm Oil/CSPO). Forms of collaboration include joint awareness campaigns, education programs, and public participation activities that highlight how sustainable palm oil production can contribute to forest preservation, wildlife habitat protection, and global climate targets.
“Biodiversity is at the core of RSPO's mission,” said Joseph D’Cruz, CEO of RSPO in an official statement written by InfoSAWIT, Thursday (6/11/2025). “Our partnership with Hongshan Zoo is an example of how collaboration between sustainability certification institutions and conservation institutions can help society reconnect with nature, inspire behavioral change, and protect threatened ecosystems. Together, we build a bridge between sustainable markets and biodiversity management, in China and the world.”
In its latest impact report, RSPO mentions various efforts to integrate biodiversity protection into sustainable palm oil production practices. These initiatives include landscape-based conservation, protection of High Conservation Value (HCV) areas, and restoration of degraded ecosystems in various producer regions. As of December 2024, RSPO members have designated 425,597 hectares of land as HCV and High Carbon Stock (HCS) areas managed sustainably in 25 countries.
Meanwhile, Bai Yali, Deputy Director of the Management Office of Nanjing Hongshan Forest Zoo, stated that this cooperation is a strategic step in strengthening public education. “As an urban zoo committed to wildlife conservation and environmental education, Hongshan Zoo is proud to collaborate with RSPO to deepen public understanding of sustainable palm oil,” she said. “We believe this partnership not only promotes responsible consumption but also contributes to achieving global goals in biodiversity and climate.”
Hongshan Zoo, recognized as one of China's leading conservation-oriented zoos, actively develops research, rescue, and reintroduction programs for native species. Through this cooperation, the zoo plans to integrate education about CSPO and the use of RSPO-labeled eco-friendly products into its education and public promotion activities, so that visitors understand the connection between daily consumption choices and wildlife protection.
The RSPO–Hongshan Zoo partnership is also aligned with the Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF), which calls for greater involvement from the business world and civil society in stopping and reversing biodiversity loss by 2030. This MoU becomes a real step in realizing that commitment through collaborative action on the ground — a synergy that connects conservation, education, and sustainability at a global level. (T2)
