The signing of the PPI Compact was conducted directly by East Aceh acting regent Mahyuddin, together with East Aceh Regional People’s Representative Council (DPRK) chairman Fattah Fitri, Aceh Region III Forest Management Unit (KPH) head Fajri, Sustainable Trade Initiative (IDH) chairman Nassat D. Idris, Leuser Conservation Forum (FKL) head M. Isa, chairman of the East Aceh Indonesian Palm Oil Association (GAPKI) Denny Ramadhan Nasution, and chairman of the East Aceh Andalan Fisherman and Farmers Community (KTNA) Amir Aziz.

Mahyuddin explained that the institutionalization of the PPI Compact in East Aceh has gone through several stages of work. Since February, a series of informal and formal discussions have been conducted with various stakeholders to map out issues and needs related to sustainable production, protection of forest areas and social inclusion in East Aceh.

"Aside from being a form of commitment, in practical terms, East Aceh regency itself has a need to embrace a green development approach," said the East Aceh acting regent during a welcoming speech at the signing ceremony of the MoU for the PPI Compact: United in Commitment, Together Working Toward a Sustainable East Aceh.

It was explained that the situation, challenges and emerging needs related to the production of various key commodities in East Aceh, as well as issues concerning forest area protection and social inclusion, demanded the necessity of a comprehensive commitment involving multiple stakeholders to work toward collaborative efforts in realizing sustainable development in East Aceh.

Nassat D. Idris, chairman of the Sustainable Trade Initiative (YIDH), which facilitated discussions among stakeholders on the formulation of the PPI Compact, stated that the PPI Compact MoU signed today marked the initial step toward achieving a shared vision in building a sustainable commodity supply chain, especially for palm oil, that would impact the improvement of people’s livelihood and development of East Aceh.

"Through this shared vision and verifiable implementation, East Aceh will have a comparative advantage in attracting sustainable investments," said Nassat.

The signed PPI Compact encompasses a joint commitment among the stakeholders to achieve targets in the areas of production, protection and inclusion over the next five years, thus ensuring a sustainable future for East Aceh.

Concerning the production targets, for instance, the stakeholders have agreed to enhance palm oil production through intensification by 30 percent over the next five years, certify local rice in order to develop the region’s potential, and implement the No Deforestation, No Peat, No Exploitation (NDPE) principles within the palm oil supply chain in East Aceh.

Regarding the protection targets, over the next five years, the stakeholders have agreed to reduce deforestation by 30 percent, construct additional elephant barriers, establish a deforestation-monitoring system in East Aceh, conduct forest restoration and protect the remaining forests located in plantation companies’ concession areas.

For the inclusion targets, the stakeholders have agreed to enhance the legality of lands through the land redistribution (Redos) and comprehensive systematic registration (PTSL) programs, establish the legality of land for the people of Gampong Sijudo in Pantee Bidari district, identify forest or customary land boundaries, increase plantation registration certificates and increase farmers' income.

The stakeholders have agreed to establish a steering team, an implementation team, and a secretariat for the Centre of Excellence in Sustainable Production (PUPL), which would manage the program’s implementation to achieve the targets outlined in the PPI Compact MoU.

This article is written in partnership with Tenggara Strategics

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