Introduction

In essence, to sustain is to continue our capacity to live life on this planet to

endure, but because that definition doesn't quite encompass the full meaning
behind environmental sustainability, it's important to look at the ways different
organizations and experts view the topic.

A walk on the beach or a hike in the woods is reminders that our forests, coral
reefs, and even our deserts act as examples of sustainable systems. Oxygen,
nitrogen, and carbon are all regenerated and redistributed in invisible chemical
cycles throughout the world’s living and not-so-living systems, sustaining and
adapting life since it first emerged.

Governments, industry, non-profits, and environmental agencies all have

different definitions of environmental sustainability and approaches to the
issue. Generally, there are three definitions of the practice.

 Definition 1

Sustainability is the ability to meet the needs of the present without

compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

This is the definition of sustainability as created by the United Nations World

Commission on Environment and Development. While it is not universally
accepted, the UN's definition is pretty standard and has been expanded over
the years to include perspectives on human needs and well-being including
non-economic variables, such as education and health, clean air and water,
and the protection of natural beauty. It is clear that the potential of our long-
term viability of wellbeing on this planet has to do with our maintenance of the
natural world and its natural resources.

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  Definition 2

Sustainability is the capacity to improve the quality of human life while living
within the carrying capacity of the Earth’s supporting eco-systems.

This definition has been provided by the International Union for Conservation
of Nature (IUCN), the work of which is driven by the fact that global production
and consumption patterns are destroying nature at persistent and dangerously
high rates.

As populations have increased and we have relied on the earth's natural

resources such as minerals, petroleum, coal, gas and so on, the earth's
natural ecosystems and creatures (from birds to insects to mammals) have
declined. We have changed the sacred balance of nature as environmentalist
David Suzuki puts it, which has had a negative impact on both humans and
other living systems.

 Definition 3

Sustainability is about stabilizing the currently disruptive relationship between

earth’s two most complex systems -human culture and the living world.

This definition of sustainability was provided by environmentalist Paul

Hawken, who has written about the realization and the science behind it that
we are using and destroying the earth's resources faster then, they can be
regenerated and replenished.

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Sustainable Palm Oil Developments in Malaysia

Sustainability, is a holistic concept, and encompasses three key elements, often

referred to as the 3Ps. – the people, planet and profit. These key concepts are
derived from the ‘Brundtland Commission’ (Brundtland, 1987) which stated that
“sustainable development seeks to meet the needs and aspirations of the present
generation without compromising the ability to meet the needs of those in the future.”
Based on this definition, sustainability is all about the efficient management of
present resources to meet future needs. In the context of the Malaysian oil palm
industry, “sustainability is all about the long-term security of the supply chain if the oil
palm business is to continue with brand values and consumer trust. The Malaysian
oil palm industry strives to strike a holistic balance between social, environmental
and economic needs of country and people by in addressing the need for

 Social development of the Malaysian people

 Conservation and management of the environment
 Ensuring progress of the nation as a whole via economic development

Proper management of natural resources would help protect their biological

production potential and help maintain future options for their use. Indeed, a major
objective of sustainable land management is the harmonization of agricultural
priorities with economic and environmental concerns (Dumanski and Smyth, 1993).

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Sustainability Environmental Management

At the global scale sustainability and environmental management involves managing

the oceans, freshwater systems, land and atmosphere, according to sustainability
principles.

Land use change is fundamental to the operations of the biosphere because

alterations in the relative proportions of land dedicated to urbanisation, agriculture,
forest, woodland, grassland and pasture have a marked effect on the global water,
carbon and nitrogen biogeochemical cycles. Management of the Earth's atmosphere
involves assessment of all aspects of the carbon cycle to identify opportunities to
address human-induced climate change and this has become a major focus of
scientific research because of the potential catastrophic effects on biodiversity and
human communities. Ocean circulation patterns have a strong influence on climate
and weather and, in turn, the food supply of both humans and other organisms.

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Sustainable Management

Sustainable management takes the concepts from sustainability and synthesizes

them with the concepts of management. Sustainability has three branches such as
the environment, the needs of present and future generations, and the economy.
Using these branches, it creates the ability of a system to thrive by maintaining
economic viability and also nourishing the needs of the present and future
generations by limiting resource depletion. From this definition, sustainable
management has been created to be defined as the application of sustainable
practices in the categories of businesses, agriculture, society, environment, and
personal life by managing them in a way that will benefit current generations and
future generations.

Sustainable management is needed because it is an important part of the ability to

successfully maintain the quality of life on our planet. Sustainable management can
be applied to all aspects of our lives. For example, the practices of a business should
be sustainable if they wish to stay in businesses, because if the business is
unsustainable, then by the definition of sustainability they will cease to be able to be
in competition. Communities are in a need of sustainable management, because if
the community is to prosper, then the management must be sustainable.

Forest and natural resources need to have sustainable management if they are to be
able to be continually used by our generation and future generations. This can be by
making decisions that will help sustain our immediate surroundings and environment,
or it can be by managing our emotional and physical well-being. Sustainable
management can be applied to many things, as it can be applied as a literal and an
abstract concept. Meaning, depending on what they are applied to the meaning of
what it is can change.

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Better Management Practices (BMP)

BMP can be considered as tools developed by plantation companies to protect the

area where they operate, while demonstrating to stakeholders that they are
implementing BMP with respect to landscaping policy. A company can use one or
more BMP components in its management practices. BMP can be adjusted
depending on the situation and condition of each area where they are applied.

Aspects to Consider In Developing BMP for Plantations

1. HCVF: Provides a tool to identify High Conservation Values Forest in the area
to improve the management of the plantation.

2. Human-wildlife conflict resolution: Provides guidance to manage human

wildlife conflict in plantations and at the district level. Such guidance includes
guidelines to identify wildlife corridors watershed areas or forest.

3. Habitat conservation and restoration: Protect the forest inside plantations in

order to maintain their biodiversity levels. This includes the areas classified as
inappropriate for oil palm plantations.

4. Prevention/resolution of land conflicts: Identification of potential resolution of

conflicts with local communities claiming, for example, their right of plantation
land.

5. Zero-burning land clearing: land clearing techniques with no risk of fire.

6. Integrated pest management (IPM): Protecting plants by using minimal

amounts of pesticides, which can be harmful to the environment and human
health.

7. Waste réductions: Efficient management of plantation and palm oil industrial

waste, to minimize pollution.

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Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil

Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) formed in 2004 was set up to promote
sustainable palm oil and is primarily meant to be a business to business undertaking

Vision & Missions RSPO

RSPO will transform markets to make sustainable palm oil the norm

 Advance the production, procurement, finance and use of sustainable palm oil
products
 Develop, implement, verify, assure and periodically review credible global
standards for the entire supply chain of sustainable palm oil
 Monitor and evaluate the economic, environmental and social impacts of the
uptake of sustainable palm oil in the market
 Engage and commit all stakeholders throughout the supply chain, including
governments and

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The Need for Sustainable Palm Oil

FULFILLS INCREASING
GLOBAL FOOD DEMAND

SUPPORTS AFFORDABLE
FOOD PRICES

SUPPORT POVERTY
REDUCTION

SAFEGUARDS SOCIAL INTERESTS,

COMMUNITIES AND WORKERS

PROTECTS THE
ENVIRONMENT AND WILDLIFE

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In 2008, the RSPO developed a set of environmental and social criteria which
companies must comply with in order to produce Certified Sustainable Palm Oil
(CSPO). When they are properly applied, these criteria can help to minimise
negative impacts.

One of the most important RSPO criteria states no primary forests or areas which
contain significant concentrations of biodiversity (e.g. endangered species) or fragile
ecosystems, or areas which are fundamental to meeting basic or traditional cultural
needs of local communities (high conservation value areas), can be cleared.

Other RSPO principles stipulate a significantly reduced use of pesticides and fires;
fair treatment of workers according to local and international labour rights standards,
and the need to inform and consult with local communities before the development of
new plantations on their land. Only by being RSPO-certified by an independent
auditor approved by the RSPO can producers claim that they produce, use and/or
sell sustainable palm oil.

Benefits of RSPO

The results of an international study carried out by the American Oil Chemists
Society amongst 9 major producers of RSPO certified sustainable palm oil identified
several benefits from RSPO certification and thus from good environmental and
socially responsible practices. Amongst the most important benefits are:

1. Reduced emission of greenhouse gases

2. Better waste management, reduced usage of pesticides
3. Improved compliance with regulatory requirements
4. Reduction of work place accidents, and enhanced productivity.

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Better Management Practices & RSPO

BMP Subject Linkages to RSPO Criteria

Conduct environmental appraisal or Criteria 5.1, 5.2, 5.3 and 7.4 Managing
Environment Impact Assessment prior environmental impacts
to development of new plantations or
change of crop types.
Protection of High Conservation Value Criterion 5.2 and 7.3 Biodiversity and
Forests (HCVF). conservation

Forests-in-Plantations Criteria 7.1 and 7.2 Biodiversity and

conservation

Retention of riparian reserves and Criteria 7.1, 7.2 and 7.3 Biodiversity and
buffer zones 2) conservation
Mitigating human-wildlife conflicts Criteria 5.2, and 7.3 Biodiversity and
with flagship species conservation
– elephant, orangutan, tiger.

Maintaining and enhancing Criteria 5.2, 7.1, 7.2, and 7.3 Biodiversity
biodiversity in plantations. and
conservation

Effective treatment of palm oil mill Criterion 5.1 and 5.3 Waste management
effluent (POME)
Soil conservation measures to Criteria 4.3, 4.4, 5.1, 5.3 and 5.6 Soil and
minimise erosion and Water
contamination by fertilisers.

Effective water management in Criteria 4.3, 4.4, 7.1 and 7.2 Soil and
lowland and peat soils Water
Zero burning during land preparation Criterion 5.5 Burning

Reduction in smoke and particulate Criteria 5.4 and 5.6 Energy and
emissions from oil mills emissions

Reduction of GHG, especially Criteria 5.4 and 5.6 Energy and

methane from effluent emissions
treatment plants

Table 1: Better Management Practices Linkages to RSPO Criteria

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Soil conservation

Soil erosion is the loss of fertile top soil. Soils in the tropics are often very sensitive to
erosion, because there is much rainfall which washes the soil away from slopes.
Once the soil is lost, it takes a long time to recover, and the fertility of eroded area
will be reduced during this period. It is difficult to produce good yields on very eroded
soils and soil erosion should therefore be prevented as much as possible. In addition
to the loss of fertile top soil, erosion also usually results in the loss of fertilisers and
organic material.

 Goal

 Maintain good soil fertility

 Prevent erosion of the topsoil
 Limit the loss of fertilisers
 Use water optimally

 Standard

 0—8% slope: No conservation measures needed

 9—15% slope: Fronds are stacked along the contour line and silt pits are dug
next to every other palm
 16—25% slope: Individual palm platforms are constructed around each palm
 26—40% slope: Terraces are installed during plantation establishment (see
Figure 24)
 40% slope or more: No oil palm is cultivated
 All soil conservation structures are correctly constructed and in good condition

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 Figure 1: Terracing and legume cover crop establishment on steep slopes.

Figure 2: Silt pit

Figure 3 Oil palm platforms (schematically) with the frond stack in light green

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  Timing

 Fronds are stacked immediately after harvesting and after corrective pruning,
or just before the rainy season
 Silt pits are constructed during the dry season
 Platforms are constructed during the dry season

 Frequency

 Fronds are stacked twice per year and after every harvesting round
 Silt pits are established once, at the start of the rehabilitation process, and
maintained yearly
 Platforms are established once, at the start of the rehabilitation process, and
maintained yearly

Replanting and jungle clearing

0il palm replanting is normally carried out after a period of about 25 to 30 years
economic life span. Replanting provides an opportunity for the estate to make
improvement on the present system such as accessibility for mechanization and re-
alignment of road, drain intensity, planting density, and it also can solve the
harvesting problem, low yield and prevailing prices of palm product.

Replanting is one of the practical strategies to improve oil palm productivity. It

provides opportunities for estate to rectify any physical problems or shortcomings
that had been encountered in the past and to carry out some improvement for the
present system such as planting density, accessibility for mechanization re-
alignment of roads, drainage system and etc. The policy of zero burning practice
currently adopted in the replanting of oil palm plantation is a good example towards
the development of more sustainable practices based on nutrient supply and organic
residues management.

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Nutrient Management

Fertilisers can make up 60 percent of the total costs of producing palm oil so it is
important to apply fertilisers efficiently. Different fertilisers have different
concentrations of nutrients.

Nutrient Management in Immature oil palm fields

Recommendation (kilo per palm per year)8

Fertiliser type Years after planting:
1 2 3
Nitrogen
Urea 0.6—1.0 1.3—1.7 1.3—2.2
Ammonium nitrate 0.8—1.5 1.7—2.4 1.7—2.9
Sulphate of ammonium 1.2—2.0 2.6—3.4 2.6—4.4
Phosphorus
Triple super phosphate 0.6—1.1 0.8—1.3 1.0—1.5
Rock phosphate 0.9—1.5 1.2—1.9 1.5—2.2
Diammonium phosphate 0.6—1.1 0.8—1.3 1.0—1.5
SP-36 (Indonesia) 0.8—1.4 1.0—1.6 1.3—1.8
Potassium
Muriate of potash (MOP, KCl) 0.8—1.3* 2.5—3.5** 2.5—3.5
Magnesium
Kieserite 0.7—1.1*** 0.7—1.5*** 0.7—1.5
Dolomite 1.4—2.1 1.4—2.8 1.4—2.8
Boron
Borax 0.05 0.10 0.10

* 0.5 kg/palm on coastal clays and K-rich volcanic soils.

** 2.0 kg/palm on coastal clays and K-rich volcanic soils.
*** No application needed on coastal clay soils.
Table 2: Fertiliser recommendations for immature palms (1—3 years after planting)
in mineral soils, in kilo per palm per year.

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Nutrient Management in Mature oil palm Fields

Recommendation (kilo per palm per year)

Fertiliser type Yield: 18—24 t/year Yield: > 24 t/year
FFB FFB
Nitrogen* 1
Urea 1.2 – 1.5 1.5 – 2.0
Ammonium nitrate 1.6 – 2.0 2.0 – 3.0
Sulphate of ammonium 2.4 – 3.0 3.0 – 4.0
Phosphorus** 1
Triple super phosphate 0.5 – 0.8 0.8 – 1.2
Rock phosphate 1.0 – 1.5 1.5 – 2.0
Diammonium phosphate 0.5 – 0.8 0.8 – 1.2
SP-36 (Indonesia) 0.6 – 1.0 1.0 – 1.5
Potassium 1
Muriate of potash (MOP, KCl) 1.8—2.5 2.5—3.0
Magnesium 3
Kieserite 0.5—1.0 1.0—1.2
Dolomite 1.0—1.5 1.5—2.0
Langbeinite 1.0—1.5 1.5—2.0
Boron
Borax 0.05—0.1 0.05—0.1

* Young mature palms (4—6 years after planting) need 50—100 percent more N
than the amounts given here, to develop a large and healthy canopy.
** Tropical soils are often very poor in P so the application of extra P is beneficial.

Table 3: Fertiliser recommendations for mature palms (> 3 years after planting) in
mineral soils, in kilo per palm per year. FFB = fresh fruit bunches

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Conclusion

Sustainable agriculture is not just environmentally sound land management

practices, but is an integration of the three main goals of social responsibility,
environmental health, and economic profitability. Malaysia is proud of being well on
the way towards fulfilling the sustainable business triple bottom line of people, planet
and profits. However, in pursuing the objectives of sustainability, the Malaysian oil
palm industry does not want it to be abused as a trade barrier but welcomes a fair
and balanced view on issues related to sustainability of palm oil.

There is no ideal solution for managing human-biodiversity conflict, although some

solutions are easier to put into practice than others. Preventive measures should be
combined to get the best result and best suited for situations, it is critically needed
and has drawn international attention.

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IPI Bulletin, 12 (1991) 1—77.

3. I. Rankine, T.H. Fairhurst, Management of phosphorus, potassium and

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