A man stands next to a fire in agricultural land in Kampar, in Sumatra island’s Riau province on September 16, 2019 as the city is blanketed by smoke from fires. — AFP pic
“Of the 0.4 per cent of hotspots within members’ concessions, 21 per cent of them are by certified members, with the remainder by non-certified members,” he said during a press conference today. “This is consistent with recent weather and seasonal patterns in Indonesia and Malaysia, contributing to conditions that cause hotspots and forest fires. This has resulted in haze and other negative environmental impacts that much of the region are currently experiencing,” he said.
“If an RSPO member is found to have intentionally used fire to clear land, we will use our Complaints System to deal with the matter, which can have repercussions such as membership suspension,” he said, adding that if the situation is severe enough, members can potentially face termination. “This means more time is needed before certification can be issued. However pending that, they are regarded as full RSPO members and as such must comply with our regulations,” he said.