Ahead of this year’s European Roundtable conference we will be interviewing speakers and delegates on key issues in the palm oil sector and how we can make change possible to deliver on commitments to 100% CSPO take up in Europe by 2020.

Dr. Jamartin Sihite is a long-time conservation activist with a huge passion and long experience supporting Indonesian most famous protected species: Varanus komodoensis, Pongo abelii, and currently, Pongo pygmaeus. After achieving his PhD in Environmental Sciences in 2004, Jamartin has held key positions in Putri Naga Komodo, the Orangutan Conservation Services Program, PT. Restorasi Habitat Orangutan Indonesia (RHOI), before assuming the role of CEO of BOS Foundation in 2011, and paved way to release hundreds of rehabilitated orangutans back to the wild forests in Central and East Kalimantan since 2012 – a feat that BOSF had yet to accomplish for the previous 10 years.

 

1. What key points would you like to see being discussed at this year’s European Roundtable?

The key point we would love to see being brought up this year in the discussion is how the palm oil companies become the solution of the problem, how these companies now commit to a nature-friendly sustainable industry.

2. One of the sessions will be on ‘Driving Impacts Through Innovation & Partnerships’. How important are partnerships such as the Salat initiative in helping to scale up positive impacts, especially in palm oil sustainability?

Partnerships are utterly important because industry is generally only profitable for companies as the main actor of any industry. Commitment towards non-profit aspects such as conservation is the one that really benefits the society in the long run.

3. Whose responsibility is it to drive the palm oil debate?

This is not the time for debate anymore. We should have left that long time ago. This is the time for real action.

4. What would you like to see as one of the outcomes of this year’s EURT?

We would love to see a new commitment lined up on how the palm oil companies become part of the solution on how to manage a more nature-friendly industry.

We’d love it if palm oil companies start to show more responsibilities towards the sustainable industry.

5. What effect would a boycott or ban on palm oil have on sustainability achievements to date within the sector?

Boycott has never been a good solution in the long run. It might raise some awareness, but definitely not the best or proper answer for a long-term movement.

 

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