High Conservation Value Assessment at Ladang Rakyat TSB in Malaysia
Client: Ladang Rakyat TSB is a state-owned oil palm grower with 10 estates spread across the Terengganu State in Malaysia. Cargill and Bunge Loders Croklaan funded an HCV assessment in Ladang Rakyat in order to improve sustainability across their palm oil supply chain.
Assignment: PT Hijau Daun was commissioned to undertake a comprehensive HCV assessment that involved interviewing the local communities in and around the estates on their reliance on natural resources. Additionally, a vegetation, bird and mammal survey was undertaken by a team of Malaysian biodiversity experts.
Outcome: The estates were far more bio-diverse than the management and staff of Ladang Rakyat TSB predicted. Many of the estates bordered on Peninsula Malaysia’s Central Forest Spine and had natural corridors extending through the estate areas. These corridors were used by large mammals. One of the estates bordered on one of the last remaining intact peat swamp forests in the area. These were just some of the findings which were addressed with appropriate management and monitoring recommendations.