Report on Palm Oil HCVF Assessment and Management

Palm oil HCVF assessment is an important priority for RSPO Members, who have made a commitment not to develop new areas of land or expand existing oil palm plantations that contain High Conservation Value Forest (HCVF). Environmental Management and Monitoring Pty Ltd (EM&M) has recently managed the assessment of HCVF at several oil palm projects and would like to take this opportunity to pass on to interested persons some observations from the process.

For the palm oil HCVF assessments, we drew upon information from the HCVF Toolkits prepared by ProForest, as well as other sources, such as Conservation International’s Rapid Assessment Program for biodiversity assessment. We found that the process can be divided into three stages: (1) Desktop Study, (2) Fieldwork Survey and (3) Data Analysis and Interpretation.

For the Desktop Study, available information is collected on the project area, such as maps, satellite image and searches are made of biological databases, information on land tenure, and reports on social issues or grievances with local people. It is essential to have access to a recent satellite image, preferably high resolution, such as SPOT for identification of land use and major differences in vegetation cover. It is relatively straightforward to identify from the satellite image areas of human settlement, forest clearings, grassland and forest.

The satellite image is invaluable for identifying intact forest, or an anomaly in the vegetation cover. For example, with high-resolution imagery it is possible to map fragile sandy soils that are characterised by vegetation, such as Bacaea frutescens and Melastoma affine shown here.

The vegetation on these soils is essential for watershed protection and at several projects it has been set aside for conservation so that the land is not disturbed. This illustrates the point that HCVs can be classified for vegetation other than forest.

The “rapid appraisal” Fieldwork Survey, which involves intensive data collection over a short period, is considered an appropriate method for the initial palm oil HCVF assessment. Fieldwork, wherever possible, should include the collection of quantitative data for comparison with information from other sites. For the vegetation assessment there are well-documented techniques for measurements of species along transects as well as in plots.

Ground-truthing of sites identified from the satellite image is particularly important for mapping vegetation cover and land use. The vegetation shown in the above photograph was identified at the desktop stage as heavily disturbed, logged over forest. However, fieldwork revealed an advanced stage of regeneration of many primary forest species and we recommended the area be set aside for conservation, rather than conversion to agriculture.

Information on terrestrial vertebrate fauna can be obtained from direct observations, habitat searches, trapping and discussions with local people who use the forest. Local peoples’ use of the forest resources for food, medicinal plants, building materials and firewood can be documented from structured interviews and informal discussions. The survey team needs to include specialists with knowledge of forest ecology, vertebrate fauna and ethnography.

We engage a national ecologist and a national social scientist to independently interview local people and collect information on forest resource use. Responses from the two separate and independent processes can be used to crosscheck the information.

Following the completion of fieldwork, Data Analysis and Interpretation involves data compilation and an assessment is made of the presence or absence of HCVs. The appropriate method to use for the assessment is the ProForest HCVF Toolkit Part 3 that has been developed in the form of a “decision tree” for identifying and managing palm oil HCVF. The toolkit gives a stepwise process to follow for identifying each of the HCVs.

The classification of an area as HCV may be relatively straightforward, such as the confirmed recording of endangered species. However, sometimes making an assessment may be complicated, such as considering a small, isolated habitat in relation to the landscape level and regional contexts. An overriding consideration in any such decision should be that once the forest has been converted to agriculture, it could never be replaced.

We have observed that the better quality soils with good potential for palm production often host high quality forest values. This presents a dilemma for the developer – whether to convert the more productive soils for oil palm or to conserve the forest. The HCVF Toolkit provides a process for systematically considering environmental and “social” values and making an informed decision.

We have found of our clients to be genuinely concerned and enthusiastic about protecting high conservation values, especially when endangered species are identified. However, it is important to communicate clearly to senior managers the assessment process and the rationale for specific recommendations.

The conservation of biodiversity is not new to palm oil and there are many examples of well managed areas that have co-existed with palm oil plantations for many years. The photo below of a beautiful river flowing through an oil palm plantation in Indonesia, demonstrates the benefits of conserving catchment and riparian vegetation for water quality protection.

We conclude from this recent work that the palm oil HCVF assessment process should be structured. It is also very important to engage National environment and social specialists on the team. The rapid appraisal approach to fieldwork is an appropriate technique for screening areas when used in conjunction with satellite images. The consistent application of HCVF assessment and protection at the planning stage of new developments will enable companies to implement sustainable palm oil.

If you would like to find out more about Palm Oil HCVF Assessment, Contact Charlie Ross