Palm oil industry in Malaysia: Working with the people

An aerial view of the Ulu Segama riparian area that has been expanded from the statutory 20m to 50m, covering 382ha in Wilmar International's Sabahmas plantation. Notice that the oil palm trees have been overgrown by the Ficus carica (tangkol) trees that provide food for the proboscis monkeys that live in the area. - Photo from Wilmar International

While palm oil industry participants are governed by various national and international standards relating to environmental sustainability, many also develop their own environmentally and culturally sensitive practices.

Agribusiness group Wilmar International Limited’s latest effort involved setting up a policy of “no deforestation, no peat, no exploitation” that was launched last December.