Case study: Preliminary findings from a Review of the Jurisdictional Approach initiative in Seruyan, Central Kalimantan, Indonesia

This case study aims to provide some inputs into the process of building RSPO Jurisdictional Certification from a rights-based perspective, based on the particular case of Seruyan in Central Kalimantan. (Note: Google Chrome users may need to download this PDF in order to view it correctly.)

The district of Seruyan in Central Kalimantan is one of four pilot Jurisdictional Approaches to certification announced by RSPO. Since 2018, Forest Peoples Programme and Yayasan Masyarakat Kehutanan Lestari have been engaging with the local government of Seruyan to clarify how the JA in Seruyan will address the challenge of land disputes in the province.

• This case study outlines the recommended actions necessary to ensure that the Seruyan Jurisdictional Approach will recognise the full extent of indigenous peoples’ land rights, and is part of a series of detailed case studies accompanying the report Upholding Human Rights in Jurisdictional Approaches: Some emerging lessons.

RSPO has developed a voluntary standard for the ‘sustainable’ production of palm oil (or fresh fruit bunches in the case of small and medium producers) that goes beyond what is required by law in many countries. RSPO member producers’ compliance with this standard is verified though 3rd party audit and the issuance of certificates by accredited Certification Bodies.

One of the main challenges for jurisdictional approaches to palm oil certification is to clarify how compliance with the RSPO standard will be incentivised and enforced for non-RSPO members within the jurisdiction. In effect, this is a process of translating a voluntary standard into mandatory requirements within the jurisdiction’s policy, legal and institutional systems.

The investigation in Seruyan was focused on understanding how the jurisdictional approach in Seruyan plans to:

• Recognise customary land rights
• Ensure self-representation by indigenous peoples and local communities
• Respect the right to Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC)
• Resolve land disputes and
• Accommodate community values, livelihoods, food security and viewpoints in High Conservation Value / High Carbon Stock land use planning.

Download the full case study here (Note: Google Chrome users may need to download this PDF in order to view it correctly)