A morning during the dry season—specifically on August 30, 2026—did not dampen the enthusiasm of the residents of Tanjung Harapan village, East Kotawaringin Regency, Central Kalimantan, as they participated in an outreach event for the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) organized by WWF-Indonesia in collaboration with the Tri Daya Village Unit Group (KUD) and the Huma Kaya Makmur Farmers’ Group Association (Gapoktan). This RSPO outreach event—the first of its kind for the residents of Tanjung Harapan Village—served as a platform for participants to learn about the principles of sustainable oil palm plantation management and to understand the RSPO and the steps toward certification.

The event, attended by 98 participants, began with opening remarks from Mr. Sucipto, the Village Head of Tanjung Harapan, followed by remarks from WWF-Indonesia delivered by Syafrudin, Coordinator of Nature-Based Solutions and Sustainable Commodities. Through this event, WWF-Indonesia aims to ensure that farmers gain sufficient knowledge about the RSPO so they can understand the benefits, requirements, and implications of the certification process before deciding to proceed to the next stages.

In his remarks, Kristian Adiguna from the Huma Kaya Makmur Farmers’ Group highlighted the importance of the Cultivation Registration Certificate (STDB) for oil palm farmers. The man, who also serves as Secretary of Tanjung Harapan Village, likened the STDB to a “certificate” for farmers’ plantations—a document proving that the plantation has been registered and possesses legal standing, which can be used when farmers wish to access various government programs, such as the Smallholder Oil Palm Replanting Program. That is why he strongly encourages farmers in Tanjung Harapan to take advantage of the available assistance in preparing the legal documentation for their plantations. Furthermore, he explained that, technically, farmers who wish to obtain RSPO certification will embedded become members of the Tri Daya Agricultural Cooperative (KUD).

Participants also received an introduction to KUD Tri Daya presented by the Chairperson of KUD Tri Daya, Kristanti Yuniati. KUD Tri Daya has held ISPO and RSPO certifications since 2023 and, as of 2025, has 381 members with a total plantation area of approximately 1,137 hectares. KUD Tri Daya’s experience was presented as an example of how institutional strengthening for farmers can go hand in hand with the implementation of better plantation practices.

The main session was then led by Rohmat, Certification Manager at KUD Tri Daya, who provided an explanation of the RSPO and the basic principles of sustainable oil palm cultivation. The material covered land legality and status, good cultivation practices, regulatory compliance, environmental protection, workplace safety, as well as financial and administrative management. Farmers were also introduced to the application of these principles in their daily activities on the plantation, such as ensuring clear land boundaries, using chemicals appropriately, maintaining river buffers, properly managing waste, and using personal protective equipment while working. In her presentation, she explained that RSPO certification can provide several benefits to its holders, ranging from financial incentives and group bonuses, BPJS Ketenagakerjaan insurance, to various training programs such as workplace safety and environmentally friendly plantation management.

During the Q&A session, Ms. Nurhayati, one of the participants, raised several questions regarding the differences between ISPO (Indonesia Sustainable Palm Oil)—a scheme intended to become mandatory by the Indonesian government, and RSPO, a voluntary certification scheme; the benefits of RSPO certification; the data collection process; and concerns that certification might alter the sales patterns of Fresh Fruit Bunches (FFB). During the discussion, Mr. Rohmat and the management of KUD Tridaya explained that the mentoring process is not intended to change farmers’ habits in selling their crop yields. Information on FFB production is the primary requirement as part of the record-keeping and traceability process in RSPO certification.

Participants also gained an overview of the steps they would need to take if they later decide to pursue certification, ranging from farmer and plantation data collection, land mapping, training, strengthening of plantation management practices, internal audits, to external audits by independent agencies.

Through this outreach, WWF-Indonesia hopes that smallholder oil palm farmers in Tanjung Harapan Village will gain a better initial understanding of the RSPO, e-STDB, plantation legality, and sustainable oil palm plantation management. This knowledge is expected to serve as a foundation for farmers to consider their involvement in the certification process and, over time, strengthen the management of their plantations to ensure they are productive, legal, safe, and environmentally friendly, while also guaranteeing the sustainability of the village’s economic activities.