The Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) announced that it would contribute US$100,000 to support Great Apes Survival Partnership (GRASP) projects in Borneo in response to recent fires endangering orangutans in the wild.
30 November 2015: The Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) announced that it would contribute US$100,000 to support Great Apes Survival Partnership (GRASP) projects in Borneo in response to recent fires endangering orangutans in the wild.
Earlier this year, fires set to clear land for agricultural development in Borneo resulted in the worst fire season since 1997 and the loss of an estimated one-third of the orangutans’ forests. RSPO Principle 5.5 prohibits “land preparation by burning,” in accordance with regional burning guidelines that require justification and prior authorization.
The fires affected already fragmented populations of orangutans and left orangutan rehabilitation centers full of rescued apes. GRASP will use the funds towards orangutan rescue and rehabilitation, fire-fighting and ongoing habitat protection efforts.
Doug Cress, GRASP Programme Coordinator, welcomed RSPO’s support, noting it is an important symbol of collaboration. The UN Environment Programme (UNEP), which hosts the GRASP Secretariat, signed a Memorandum of Understanding with RSPO in 2014. [UNEP Press Release] [UN GRASP Website]