Call for Campaign Action

Riau Andalan Pulp and Paper (RAPP), a giant pulp company operating in Riau Province, Indonesia, is applying for Plantation Forest Management Certificate, which refers to the Indonesia Ecolabeling Institute (LEI) Certification System.

The application has called forth critical reaction from Riau-based NGOs and several regional and national NGOs. The NGOs have found at least 4 critical points with regard to the application:

1. That there occurred land conversion in PT RAPP’s HTI - Pelalawan Sector long before the definitive permit was issued on 1 October 2004.

Based on the 2007 Landsat image, some 6,458 hectares of land in the sector were converted in 2000, 54,218 hectares during 2001-2002; and 3,924 hectares during 2003-2007.

2. That the entire industrial plantation forest of PT RAPP’s HTI – Pelalawan Sector lies on peatland that has the depth of more than 3 meters.

3. That 38,877 hectares or 46.43% of the entire PT RAPP’s HTI – Pelalawan Sector lie inside the Protected Forest designated under the 1994 Riau Province’s Spatial Plan (RTRWP). This is in direct contravention with the decree of the Minister of Forestry No. 21/Kpts-II/2001 on Criteria and Standard of Plantation Forest Timber Utilization Permit on Production Forest dated 31 January 2001, and Criteria and Standards of Plantation Forest Timber Utilization Permit on Production Forest under Provincial Spatial Plan (map enclosed).

4. That the entire PT RAPP’s HTI – Pelalawan Sector, before it was exploited by the company, had been a pristine natural forest.

(For more detailed information please read Critical Response Paper)

We hereby:

1. appeal to LEI to cancel the application, which is currently under assessment by certifier Mutu Agung Lestari (MAL).

2. appeal to buyers and consumers not to purchase pulp and paper produced by the company as they are produced at the cost of forest destruction and in direct violation of the Indonesia’s existing laws.

3. support the government of Indonesia (i.e. the law enforcers) to continue the legal proceedings against PT RAPP’s violation of the permit.

Pekanbaru, January 2008

Susanto Kurniawan Rivani Noor
JIKALAHARI’s Coordinator CAPPA’s Facilitator

Djafri Dt Penghulu Besar M Teguh Surya
Riau Indigenous People Alliance WALHI Riau’s Deputy Director

Patra B Teddy Hardiansyah
Perkumpulan Hakiki’s Director Kabut Riau’s Director

Riko Kurniawan Sumarnowo
Perkumpulan Elang’s Director Mitra Insani’s Director

Taryudi
Secretary General of DPP PPR Riau

On Behalf of :