Rehabilitation Best Practices for Riparian Reserves in Oil Palm Plantations

The Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO), a multi-stakholder certification program, requires the “protection of water courses and wetlands, including maintaining and restoring appropriate riparian and other buffer zones.” Oil palm plantations trying to meet RSPO standards are required to set aside or restore riparian reserves in their plantation area. These riparian reserves are intended to help filter-out pollutants, stabilize river banks, reduce downstream flooding, and help maintain natural habitats for aquatic plants and animals. Many plantation companies, however, lack the technical expertise needed to conserve and restore natural vegetation in these riparian reserves. This training event was organized by ELTI and TBI in close coordination with Goodhope Asia Holdings, Ltd. to assist field staff from Goodhope-owned plantation and others located nearby in Central Kalimantan, Indonesia, to restore their riparian reserves.