To: Mr. Jeremy Goon, Head of Corporate Social Responsibility at Wilmar International
Tell Wilmar: Only actions, not words, will save forests
Dear Mr. Goon –
Wilmar International, the world’s largest palm oil trader, has recently made a historic commitment to cut out deforestation, peatland destruction and the exploitation of human rights from its supply chain. The No Deforestation, No Peat, No Exploitation policy is a bold and exciting commitment to change the direction of the company and the entire palm oil sector, and I applaud you for it.
But actions speak louder than words. In Uganda and Nigeria, Wilmar subsidiaries have driven local people off their land without compensation, wrecked thousands of hectares of forest reserve and steamrolled over community rights.
Wilmar has made a bold commitment to end these practices. I urge you and Wilmar to hold true to your word and show us that you are taking corrective action, effective immediately. Our forests, our climate, and our communities cannot wait.
Wilmar International, the world’s largest palm oil trader, has recently made a historic commitment to cut out deforestation, peatland destruction and the exploitation of human rights from its supply chain. The No Deforestation, No Peat, No Exploitation policy is a bold and exciting commitment to change the direction of the company and the entire palm oil sector, and I applaud you for it.
But actions speak louder than words. In Uganda and Nigeria, Wilmar subsidiaries have driven local people off their land without compensation, wrecked thousands of hectares of forest reserve and steamrolled over community rights.
Wilmar has made a bold commitment to end these practices. I urge you and Wilmar to hold true to your word and show us that you are taking corrective action, effective immediately. Our forests, our climate, and our communities cannot wait.
Why is this important?
Last month, Wilmar International, the world’s largest palm oil trader, made a historic commitment to cut out deforestation, peatland destruction and the exploitation of human rights from its supply chain.
This development has huge potential to transform the palm oil industry and the lives of people impacted by landgrabs and forest destruction. But so far, it’s just words on paper. Wilmar’s promise only matters if the company takes rapid and responsible action.
Wilmar’s crimes span continents: it has much to amend. In West Kalimantan, Indonesia, one of Wilmar’s suppliers, Bumitama Agri, stands accused of destroying thousands of acres of forest and maintaining illegal plantations inside protected forest reserves. In the Kalangala Islands of Uganda, Wilmar subsidiaries have taken thousands of acres from local communities and have destroyed natural forest to grow palm oil. In Nigeria, Wilmar has acquired land that overlaps national forest reserves and community-owned lands, and has already deforested and bulldozed thousands of acres of forest and farmland.
Tell Wilmar: Your promise of No Deforestation, No Exploitation, No Peat requires urgent action. And it should start now.
This development has huge potential to transform the palm oil industry and the lives of people impacted by landgrabs and forest destruction. But so far, it’s just words on paper. Wilmar’s promise only matters if the company takes rapid and responsible action.
Wilmar’s crimes span continents: it has much to amend. In West Kalimantan, Indonesia, one of Wilmar’s suppliers, Bumitama Agri, stands accused of destroying thousands of acres of forest and maintaining illegal plantations inside protected forest reserves. In the Kalangala Islands of Uganda, Wilmar subsidiaries have taken thousands of acres from local communities and have destroyed natural forest to grow palm oil. In Nigeria, Wilmar has acquired land that overlaps national forest reserves and community-owned lands, and has already deforested and bulldozed thousands of acres of forest and farmland.
Tell Wilmar: Your promise of No Deforestation, No Exploitation, No Peat requires urgent action. And it should start now.