"Since 2015, WWF and Michelin have engaged in a global partnership to transform the natural rubber market towards sustainable practices, in an effort to lower the global ecological footprint and conserve priority ecosystems.

"As part of this global partnership, WWF-Indonesia provides technical assistance to Michelin's joint venture Royal Lestari Utama (RLU), whose rubber production sites are located in WWF-Indonesia's working areas in Sumatra and Kalimantan. This partnership in Indonesia aims to support the management of green rubber plantations designed to support local communities and minimize ecosystem and biodiversity impacts, including through the establishment of wildlife corridors in areas where deforestation is recognized as a serious threat to the sustainability of important ecosystems and high biodiversity in the region.

"Due to external circumstances, RLU and WWF-Indonesia have agreed to suspend cooperation in March 2020. However, as a stakeholder working to support nature conservation in this landscape, WWF-Indonesia remains committed to monitoring and supporting the implementation of Michelin and RLU's zero deforestation commitment, including the protection and restoration of areas identified as having high conservation value or high carbon stock, the Wildlife Conservation Area in Jambi.

"WWF-Indonesia expects RLU to effectively continue to implement its zero deforestation commitment by promoting sustainable natural rubber production practices and protecting and restoring key ecological habitats for Sumatran and Bornean elephants, tigers and orangutans located in and around RLU's concessions."