RSPO and HCVN To Advance High Conservation Value Protection for Sustainable Palm Oil

Embedding high conservation value protections further strengthens the RSPO Standard as a tool to address deforestation and strengthen compliance with evolving regulations

Bangkok, Thailand, 11 November 2024: The RSPO has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the High Conservation Value Network (HCVN). The signing took place during the RSPO Annual Roundtable conference (RT2024) in Bangkok from 11 to 13 November. It cements a shared commitment to safeguarding high conservation values (HCVs) and high carbon stock forests as a cornerstone of sustainable palm oil production. 

The MoU builds on years of collaboration between RSPO and HCVN to protect vital ecosystems and biodiversity as well as sites and resources of critical importance for Indigenous peoples and local communities. Through this strengthened partnership, both parties will work together to embed HCV protections within sustainable land management practices across palm oil landscapes. 

HCVN’s Global Director, Belinda Bowling, stated, “Our joint efforts aim to support resilient ecosystems, prevent biodiversity loss, and integrate HCV considerations into responsible production standards. We are united in pursuing the global sustainability goals and ensuring sustainable palm oil practices that serve people, nature, and the future of our planet. Aligned with broader global sustainability goals and the ongoing revision of RSPO’s Principles and Criteria, it ensures our processes remain robust, transparent, and compliant with evolving regulations, such as the EU Deforestation Regulation”.

Commenting on the signing, Joseph D’Cruz, RSPO Chief Executive Officer, said, “Our enhanced partnership with HCVN comes at an opportune time when the RSPO is preparing for the adoption of the 2024 RSPO Standards. “Commenting on the signing, Joseph D’Cruz, CEO, RSPO, said, “The imminent adoption of the 2024 RSPO Standards is a good moment to underscore our partnership with HCVN. The new Standards reinforce RSPO’s use of the Integrated High Conservation Value-High Carbon Stock (HCV-HCS) approach as the best way for us to ensure the protection of critical ecosystems, while providing clear and implementable guidance for responsible palm planting. The input HCVN provided has strengthened the RSPO Standard as a leading tool to address deforestation in global supply chains”. 

As of 2023, RSPO Certification has protected over 466,600 hectares of valuable HCV and HCS forests since adopting the HCV Approach in November 2005 and the HCS Approach in November 2018. 

The MoU between RSPO and HCVN will further streamline processes and data management, alongside the development of RSPO’s certification, trade, and traceability system (prisma). The 2024 RSPO Standards have also been strengthened in its integration with the certification system through prisma, which has been built to provide digital data and supply chain traceability and can act as a supporting tool for members to strengthen risk assessment and due diligence for emerging regulatory compliance. 

The enhanced partnership between RSPO and HCVN will continue promoting best practices and innovative approaches to HCV protection, setting a benchmark for environmental and social stewardship across the palm oil sector.

About RSPO:

The Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) is a global partnership to make palm oil sustainable. Formed in 2004, the RSPO is a multi-stakeholder non-profit organisation that unites members from across the palm oil value chain, including oil palm producers, palm oil processors and traders, consumer goods manufacturers, retailers, banks and investors, environmental or nature conservation non-governmental organisations (NGOs), and social or developmental NGOs.

As a partnership for progress and positive impact, the RSPO facilitates global change to make the production and consumption of palm oil sustainable. To inspire change, we communicate the environmental and social benefits. To make progress, we catalyse collaboration. To provide assurance, we set the standards of certification.

The RSPO is registered as an international association in Zurich, Switzerland, with main offices in Malaysia and Indonesia, and offices in China, Colombia, Netherlands, United Kingdom and the United States.

For further information, kindly contact:  [email protected].