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Company Response

8 Nov 2021

Author:
PT Toba Pulp Lestari

PT. Toba Pulp Lestari Tbk's response on clashes with Natumingka people

[...]

Regarding the incident that took place in May 2021, TPL did not insist on planting eucalyptus on indigenous customary land. The location of the TPL work area which was claimed by the Natumingka community is in fact in a production forest area managed by the company that had been replanted and harvested five times without any issue since 1990. The relationship between the company and local communities has been largely amicable...

Since October 2020, TPL had communicated with the community to propose partnerships for planting, HHBK (Hasil Hutan Bukan Kayu/non-timber forest production), and intercropping to improve the welfare of the communities.

It was on the request of the community that TPL wrote to the local Forest Management Unit office (KPH) to verify the area claimed by the Natumingka community. Based on field verification carried out on 6 April 2021, the entire area in dispute is a state forest area which has been designated as TPL’s licensed area for plantation according to correspondence from KPH IV (Balige region), dated 16 April 2021.

On October 5, 2021, an agreement to end the dispute was reached during a meeting with members of the Natumingka community, which was attended by the Head of KPH IV, the Head of Borbor District and local community leaders...

Over many years of operation, the company has sought to create positive and open engagement with the communities where it operates and is committed to resolving grievances in an amicable and constructive manner.

[...]