18.2.2 Principles & Criteria 2013 (P&C 2013)
In the P&C 2013 (RSPO 2013), requirements relating to management of cultivated
peatlands were further refined and elaborated throughout the standard. In addition to
the original requirement of an “effective and documented water management program”, a requirement for active subsidence monitoring and ground cover management was added in Criteria 4.3. A new requirement was added which required a
drainability assessment to be conducted prior to replanting oil palm in fields
containing peat soil. This assessment allowed for determination of the ability for
drainage of water in the assessed area through gravity, ultimately determining the
long-term viability for replanting in the assessed area, without the assistance of
bunding and mechanical pumping.
The first version of the “RSPO Manual on Best Management Practices” was also
introduced during this time. Published in two volumes (Lim et al. 2012; Parish
et al. 2012), the first volume contained guidance on the effective management of oil
palm cultivated on peat, while the second covered the rehabilitation and management of natural vegetation on peatlands. Key practices for the management of
peatlands, both for planted areas and rehabilitation to natural vegetation were
included in these manuals which included water and vegetation cover management,
fire avoidance, subsidence monitoring, fertilizer application and integrated pest
management.
Requirements for extensive planting on peatlands were further refined in the P&C
2013. Where previously the definition of “extensive planting” was dependent on the
National Interpretation (NI) of the P&C for a specific country, a generic definition of
“20% of the total development area, or 100 ha, whichever lower” was introduced for
planting on fragile soils (peat being characterized as one of them). Criteria 7.8 was
introduced requiring “new plantation developments are designed to minimize net
greenhouse gas emissions” which further encouraged the avoidance of areas with
high carbon stock such as peatlands when developing new plantations. An analysis
of reporting related to implementation of Criteria 7.8 between 2015 and 2017
indicated that no new areas of peatlands were proposed to be planted with oil palm
and 5641 ha of peatland linked to new developments was proposed to be included in
conservation areas by RSPO members (Gan et al. 2018).
18.2.3 Principles & Criteria 2018 (P&C 2018)
The P&C 2018 marks a significant milestone for the requirements on conservation of
peatlands and application of best management practices (BMPs). Requirements
specific to peatland were consolidated into a dedicated Criteria 7.7 (No new planting
on peat, regardless of depth after 15 November 2018 and all peatlands are managed
responsibly) and seven indicators (see Table 18.1). More comprehensive requirements and guidance were introduced, the most significant being a prohibition of any
new planting on peatlands after 15 November 2018 and specific requirement to
512
F. Parish et al.
In the P&C 2013 (RSPO 2013), requirements relating to management of cultivated
peatlands were further refined and elaborated throughout the standard. In addition to
the original requirement of an “effective and documented water management program”, a requirement for active subsidence monitoring and ground cover management was added in Criteria 4.3. A new requirement was added which required a
drainability assessment to be conducted prior to replanting oil palm in fields
containing peat soil. This assessment allowed for determination of the ability for
drainage of water in the assessed area through gravity, ultimately determining the
long-term viability for replanting in the assessed area, without the assistance of
bunding and mechanical pumping.
The first version of the “RSPO Manual on Best Management Practices” was also
introduced during this time. Published in two volumes (Lim et al. 2012; Parish
et al. 2012), the first volume contained guidance on the effective management of oil
palm cultivated on peat, while the second covered the rehabilitation and management of natural vegetation on peatlands. Key practices for the management of
peatlands, both for planted areas and rehabilitation to natural vegetation were
included in these manuals which included water and vegetation cover management,
fire avoidance, subsidence monitoring, fertilizer application and integrated pest
management.
Requirements for extensive planting on peatlands were further refined in the P&C
2013. Where previously the definition of “extensive planting” was dependent on the
National Interpretation (NI) of the P&C for a specific country, a generic definition of
“20% of the total development area, or 100 ha, whichever lower” was introduced for
planting on fragile soils (peat being characterized as one of them). Criteria 7.8 was
introduced requiring “new plantation developments are designed to minimize net
greenhouse gas emissions” which further encouraged the avoidance of areas with
high carbon stock such as peatlands when developing new plantations. An analysis
of reporting related to implementation of Criteria 7.8 between 2015 and 2017
indicated that no new areas of peatlands were proposed to be planted with oil palm
and 5641 ha of peatland linked to new developments was proposed to be included in
conservation areas by RSPO members (Gan et al. 2018).
18.2.3 Principles & Criteria 2018 (P&C 2018)
The P&C 2018 marks a significant milestone for the requirements on conservation of
peatlands and application of best management practices (BMPs). Requirements
specific to peatland were consolidated into a dedicated Criteria 7.7 (No new planting
on peat, regardless of depth after 15 November 2018 and all peatlands are managed
responsibly) and seven indicators (see Table 18.1). More comprehensive requirements and guidance were introduced, the most significant being a prohibition of any
new planting on peatlands after 15 November 2018 and specific requirement to
512
F. Parish et al.