Indonesia
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Nigeria, known for its vibrant culture and rich history, is also a hidden gem for mountain biking enthusiasts. Picture yourself riding along the picturesque Obudu Plateau, where the air is fresh and the panoramic views are breathtaking.
Founded in 2019, Ecotrop began with a mission to deliver sustainability focused services that create measurable impact.
From just 4 projects in our first year, we’ve grown to complete 262+ projects for over 100 companies across 21 national and international groups.
Through the years, we have:
Earned client trust by delivering high-quality social and environmental strategies.
Expanded our expertise in palm oil, forestry, mining, renewable energy, and fisheries.
Integrated advanced technology like web-based monitoring systems for greater transparency.
Our journey reflects a deep commitment to Think Sustainability building a better future through collaboration, innovation, and integrity.
Problem
In relation to the planned development of a new oil palm plantation on reserve land within the concession area of its subsidiary, PT Sukses Karya Mandiri (SKM), TAPG required experts capable of conducting a series of assessments mandated under the RSPO New Planting Procedure (2018), namely the HCV-HCSA Assessment, SIA, FPIC Verification, LUCA and SL Assessment, as well as the GHG Assessment, and of preparing the Summary of Assessments and Management Plans for verification by a certification body and submission to RSPO.
Beyond the effective implementation of these assessments, TAPG was also particularly concerned with ensuring continuity and timeliness in the assessment process, especially since the HCV-HCSA Assessment, one of the components required under the RSPO New Planting Procedure (2018), can take more than one year to complete, with potential report evaluation costs that may exceed the cost of conducting the HCV-HCSA Assessment itself.
In its effort to implement the New Planting Procedure for PT SKM, TAPG needed experts who could carry out all required assessments with high-quality and credible outputs, while also ensuring that the implementation aligned with a measurable timeline and cost framework.
Solution
As an experienced sustainability consulting firm committed to delivering value for clients, Ecotrop developed an integrated approach to support TAPG not only by conducting the required assessments objectively, but also by providing recommendations on implementation mechanisms to address TAPG’s concerns regarding timeline management and cost predictability.
The steps we carried out included:
Assessment implementation: The work plan for all assessments was designed in such a way that time and cost allocation could be managed effectively and efficiently. The plan was prepared by designing an integrated team of experts and a coordinated work schedule to minimize inefficiency and redundancy. The proposed work plan was then submitted to TAPG for review and approval.
Preparation of assessment outputs and management plans: Outputs from all required assessments were produced in the form of reports that complied with applicable guidelines and regulations. In addition to the assessment results, the Ecotrop team also provided management plan recommendations, which were later adopted by TAPG to follow up on the findings of each assessment.
Submission of the HCV-HCSA Report for evaluation by HCVN-ALS: Through a credible and objective assessment process, PT SKM’s HCV-HCSA Report successfully passed the evaluation and achieved a Satisfactory rating from HCVN-ALS in only two review stages, resulting in cost savings of more than 35% compared to the maximum potential report evaluation cost.
Determination of areas proposed for new planting: The Ecotrop team helped define the scope of the new planting area in accordance with the assessment results, particularly with regard to the protection of HCV-HCS areas, alignment with the surrounding social context of local communities, and efforts to mitigate GHG emissions in the new planting area.
Service commitment to provide clarification and corrections until the NPP was accepted by RSPO: Ecotrop maintained its commitment to ensuring that all assessment outputs were acceptable to the client and all relevant parties, including during TAPG’s internal review process and the NPP verification process by the independent certification body and RSPO. The Ecotrop team prepared clarifications in response to questions raised by the certification body and RSPO, and made the adjustments requested by those institutions to the outputs produced.
Result
Ecotrop’s integrated approach delivered significant success, namely the fulfillment of:
The assessments required for the NPP of PT SKM.
The management plans required for the NPP and as guidance for following up on the results of all assessments at PT SKM.
The scope of the proposed new planting area on PT SKM’s reserve land, aligned with commitments to protect HCV-HCS areas, respect the surrounding social context of local communities, and mitigate GHG emissions.
PT SKM’s NPP for the new development plan, which was verified by the certification body and accepted by RSPO.
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