T

he Jakarta Post published the article '€œReport finds SVLK fails to stop illegal logging'€ by Han Nicholas Jong dated Dec. 23 in its print and online editions.

The article carried various allegations made by a single source named Muhammad Kosar from Forest Watch Indonesia. No attempt was made by the Post to contact PT Toba Pulp Lestari (TPL) for comments or to fact-check.

This constitutes a violation of the code of journalism. By not verifying the accuracy of information and only relying on a single source to represent truth, your article has resulted in unbalanced and false reporting that has damaged TPL'€™s reputation.

The following is a point-by-point refutation of the allegations carried in your article. We request that the Post, at the earliest opportunity, publish our clarifications and make corrections to its online edition.

1. '€œAccording to the investigation, pulp and paper companies PT Adindo Hutani Lestari [AHL] and PT Toba Pulp Lestari have not been compliant with the country'€™s timber legality system, called the Wood Legality Verification System [SVLK], even though both firms received legal certification and continued to supply timber to pulp and paper giants.'€

TPL runs its operations, both in plantations supplying wood as raw material for pulp or in the mill in receipt of wood supplied from plantations, in accordance with applicable laws and regulations, as well as by the standards set out in the SVLK and Sustainable Forest Management (PHPL). Our operations are audited by independent assessors who are accredited by the National Accreditation Committee (SVLK by SGS and PHPL by Ayamaru).

2. '€œThe investigation also found that PT TPL'€™s operation in North Sumatra was mired in land disputes and the violation of locals'€™ human rights.'€

TPL operates in accordance with the laws governing state forest concessions (IUPHHK-HT) and Environment and Forestry Ministry decree No. 493/Kpts-II/1992 dated June 1, 1992, in conjunction with Decree No. SK.58/Menhut-II/2011 dated Feb. 28, 2011. There is no dispute over land ownership with the community because our operations are conducted in state forests and in accordance with our industrial timber estate (HTI) license.

TPL works closely with, and in the interests of, local communities. They are given access to conduct their activities (harvesting incense trees, rattan and other non-timber forest products) because they can utilize the available infrastructure built by TPL.

3. '€œAccording to Kosar, the local community living in PT TPL'€™s operating area is still struggling to take over management of a 3,900-square-meter customary forest from the company.'€

Our IUPHHK-HT TPL is located in state forest and is charged with the function of permanent production forest (HP). There is no customary land in this plantation. However, for the sake of the community, TPL has reserved approximately 8 percent of our total HTI for livelihood purposes. This is above the 5 percent required by law.

4. '€œThe villagers, however, are now unable to rely on the forest for their livelihoods because PT TPL, which in 1992 was granted a concession to manage 269,000 hectares of forest in North Sumatra for 35 years, started felling trees on customary land in 2009.'€

TPL'€™s concession has been reduced from 269,060 hectares to 190,187.72 ha. Although we are allowed by regulation to establish industrial timber plantations covering 70 percent of the total area granted to us, we plan to use only 40 percent. The remainder is set aside to support the livelihood of locals and for conservation areas and infrastructure.

To date, TPL has established more than 50,000 ha of HTI, approximately 26 percent of which can now be developed. We consider the interests of local communities and environmental conservation holistically.

Villagers around the forest still depend on forests managed by TPL. TPL provides opportunities for locals to easily access the forests so that they can harvest incense trees, rattan and other non-timber forest products in HTI TPL.

TPL, in collaboration with the Forestry Research Institute of Ae Nauli (BPK Aek Nauli), is developing incense trees by producing good incense seeds. The incense seeds have been planted in an area that entirely benefits surrounding communities. TPL also involves surrounding communities in operations by giving them job opportunities in the fields of land preparation, planting, maintenance, harvesting and hauling to mill site.

5. '€œThe conflict there has reached a boiling point, with the case falling into the hands of the National Commission on Human Rights [Komnas HAM] in 2014. Until now, no resolution has been achieved because of the lack of clear boundaries between the customary forest and the concession.'€

TPL has never committed any human rights violations. On the contrary, TPL employees have suffered persecution and kidnapping by some parties. TPL operates within applicable laws and regulations and the entire IUPHHK-HT is state forest. TPL has also mapped out clear boundaries of IUPHHK-HT TPL. The latest solution instructed by the Environment and Forestry Ministry is to accommodate the interests of society with a partnership program developing incense plants.

The partnership program has been agreed to with a Memorandum of Understanding between the communities in accordance with the direction of the Environment and Forestry Ministry.

Juanda Panjaitan
Director, PT Toba Pulp Lestari Tbk
Medan

We apologize for failing to contact PT Toba Pulp Lestari Tbk.

'€” The Editor