The 6th meeting of the Round Table on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO RT6, in Bali) will deal with the criteria for 'Sustainable Palm Oil'. Wetlands International will advocate the exclusion of peatlands for sustainable palm oil production and demands an additional criterium on greenhous gas emissions (maximum per tonne palm oil).

Large scale palm oil production on tropical peatlands currently causes massive emissions of greenhouse gasses. The organic carbon of the peatlands is drained for the oil palm trees. As a result, the carbon is exposed to the air (oxygen) and becomes carbon dioxide. Click here for more information.

Wetlands International will not support the sustainability criteria if use of peatlands is not excluded.

Documents:

Resolution of Wetlands International: A moratorium on palm oil from peatlands

Agenda of the Meeting:

1. Members' roll call

2. Opening address by the RSPO President, Mr Jan Kees Vis

3. To receive the Report of the RSPO President (To be provided in the GA 5 Folder)

4. To confirm minutes of the last General Assembly held on 22 November 2007

5. To receive and adopt the Report and Audited Accounts of the RSPO Treasurer

(RSPO Secretariat Sdn Bhd Audited Accounts will be available upon request)

6. To appoint auditors and to hold office until the conclusion of the next General Assembly .

7. To discuss and adopt the following resolutions if accepted.

    a) A moratorium on Palm Oil from Tropical Peatlands (Submitted by Wetlands International)

    b) Addition to Code of Conduct that members specify their commitment, through the annual communication of progress (Submitted by Oxfam International)

    c) Procedure to assure compliance with RSPO Principles and Criteria concerning New Plantings. (Submitted by WWF International)

Note: A resolution from PanEco has been returned to originator to be modified as advised following EB meeting of 6th October. This revised version will be emailed to members once received at the Secretariat.

8. To elect Executive Board Members for the following categories:

• Producers
• NBPOL retiring - Nominations to date: Agropalma, Fedepalma
• FELDA retiring - No nominations to date
• Processors and Traders
• AAK retiring - offer for re-election, Royal Dutch Shell offer for election
• Consumer Goods Manufacturers
• Cadbury Schweppes retiring - offer for re-election
• Retailers
• Migros retiring - no nominations to date
• Banks
• Rabobank retiring - offer for re-election
• Environmental NGOs
• WWF International retiring - offer for re-election
• WWF Indonesia retiring - Conservation International nominated
• Social NGOs
• Sawit Watch retiring - offer for re-election

9. Any other business