RSPO palm oil sustainability and fire management

The Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) has reaffirmed its zero-tolerance policy regarding forest and land burning to protect ecosystems and biodiversity. To enforce this, the organization utilizes the 2024 Principles and Criteria Standards, real-time satellite hotspot tracking via the FireWatch system, and an independent grievance mechanism for reporting violations.

During the RT2026 annual conference in Jakarta, discussions addressed the impact of Indonesian forest fires during a severe El Niño period. Satellite analysis indicated that over 1.9 million hectares burned across Indonesia between January and September 2026. Data presented at the forum suggested that RSPO-certified concessions accounted for approximately 14,500 hectares of burned land, or roughly 0.8% of the national total. RSPO leadership noted there is currently no evidence that RSPO-certified independent smallholders have intentionally used fire.

The conference also focused on the integration of independent smallholders into the global market. Forty-five smallholder groups from Indonesia, Malaysia, Colombia, Peru, and Thailand were recognized for achieving their first RSPO certifications, supported by business matching events involving Independent Smallholder Credits.