After carrying out a series of activities on the previous "Indonesia Exposure Visit" in Jakarta on November 21-22, 2023, WWF-India and the Indian delegation continued the "Indonesia Exposure Visit" to Riau still intending to connect stakeholders from both palm oil industry players, such as independent smallholders, private sector, and government between India-Indonesia.

This activity began with a meeting with the Riau Province Plantation Office. Dr. Ir. Sri Ambar Kusumawati, M.S., Head of Business Development and Extension, Riau Provincial Plantation Office, explained some of the key components of RAD KSB that have been agreed upon by the Riau Provincial Government, as well as the implementation that will be carried out by the Riau Plantation Office in implementing RAD KSB, namely by collecting data on the names of farmers and the location of the plantation, facilitating clear and certified seeds, facilitating facilities & infrastructure (oil palm harvesting tools, road access improvements, vehicle assistance, etc.), as well as regarding ISPO [1] (Indonesia Sustainable Palm Oil) targets and incentives for farmers after 2020 not only at the upstream (production) level but also at the downstream (market) level.

This series of activities was accompanied by a briefing from the WWF-Indonesia team on the scope of WWF-Indonesia in the field of sustainable palm oil. Joko Sarjito, Fahnia Chairawaty, and Rizka Nurul Annisa presented an overview of WWF-Indonesia's Sustainable Palm Oil project from upstream to downstream levels.

In addition, it was also explained how WWF-Indonesia's involvement in Riau in encouraging better landscape management practices, forest destruction monitoring, vegetation monitoring, human-elephant conflict, forest rehabilitation, and forest area monitoring.

One of the highlights of the series was a visit to the Tesso Nilo National Park Foundation (Camp Flying Squad) guided by Yuliantony the Executive Director of the Tesso Nilo National Park Foundation. Flying Squad is a patrol team consisting of trained mahouts and elephants. Flying Squad is tasked with monitoring, and herding elephants back into the Tesso Nilo area if they are seen leaving the area. In addition, it analyzes the risks and potential deaths experienced by elephants due to frequent conflicts with humans, as well as providing routine care for elephants in the Tesso Nilo National Park Foundation area.

sustainable plantation to independent smallholders regularly, replanting old trees, financial assistance, and supporting the development of facilities and infrastructure that play a role in sustainable palm oil production

The series of activities concluded with a visit to the Amanah Association. This is the first independent smallholder association in Indonesia to be RSPO certified. Sunarno, Group Manager of the Amanah Association of Independent Palm Oil Farmers, explained the changes that have occurred after partnering with WWF-Indonesia and Asian Agri, such as how the members of the association feel the many changes in their plantations after implementing good plantation practices, such as increased FFB yields, getting GAP (Good Agricultural Practices) training, getting worker protection rights, clear planting and fertilization plans, and getting premium credit from the RSPO in managing the Amanah Association.

[1] Indonesia Sustainable Palm Oil (ISPO): Policy issued by the Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Indonesia and is mandatory for oil palm plantation businesses in implementing sustainable oil palm plantation practices, based on: BPDPKS. (2021, October 9). Indonesian Sustainable Palm Oil (ISPO) Plantation Certification SystemKelapaSawit. https://www.bpdp.or.id/pengenalan-sistem-sertifikasi-kelapa-sawit-berkelanjutan-indonesia-ispox