PALMOILMAGAZINE, JAKARTA — Carl Traeholt, International Project Development Manager at Copenhagen Zoo, recalls the early 2000s as a period when palm oil was widely labeled “the most hated crop in the world.” At the time, international publications were dominated by stories linking palm oil expansion to deforestation and wildlife habitat loss. Yet behind that narrative, Carl says, another story was unfolding—one that rarely reached global audiences: the sustained efforts in Indonesia to reform industry practices on the ground.
“That label was not entirely fair,” he said. “Many actors—companies, research institutions, and NGOs—have made significant changes. Unfortunately, those positive developments are rarely told.”
According to Carl, the transformation he refers to goes beyond administrative compliance with certification schemes such as the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) or Indonesian Sustainable Palm Oil (ISPO). What truly matters, he stressed, is whether policies and field practices are delivering tangible benefits for the environment and surrounding communities.
For Carl, genuine sustainability must begin with data-driven planning rooted in scientific evidence. Before any land is developed, companies need a clear understanding of baseline ecosystem conditions—ranging from water quality and vegetation to wildlife populations. Without this foundation, it becomes nearly impossible to determine whether plantation activities are improving environmental conditions or causing further degradation.
“We often count how many training sessions were held or how many certificates were issued,” he said. “But we rarely measure whether rivers are becoming cleaner or whether orangutan populations are increasing.”
In his view, success indicators should not stop at annual sustainability reports. They must translate into real, observable changes in nature and in people’s lives.
He also highlighted a structural weakness in how the industry approaches certification. Many palm oil companies work diligently to meet RSPO and ISPO requirements, but often treat them as administrative checklists rather than instruments for ecological recovery. True sustainability, Carl argued, should move beyond compliance toward restoration.
“Certification often stops at compliance. We need to move to restoration,” he said. “Not only minimizing damage, but actively repairing ecosystems that have already been degraded.”
One clear example lies in the management of High Conservation Value (HCV) areas. While many companies have mapped and designated HCV zones within their concessions, without active management these areas risk becoming little more than “marks on a map,” lacking real ecological function.
In Carl’s assessment, changing the global stigma surrounding palm oil will depend not on slogans or certificates alone, but on whether the industry can demonstrate measurable improvements—healthier ecosystems, recovering wildlife populations, and communities that genuinely benefit from sustainable practices. (P2)
