Nestlé to assist shield and restore forest landscapes in Southeast Asia
The program was developed by Lestari Capital in collaboration with founding partners such as Nestlé, PepsiCo, Procter & Gamble and Wilmar
Nestle announced its support for the protection and restoration of over 500,000 hectares of tropical forest landscapes in Southeast Asia through the launch of Rimba Collective, the largest private sector forest conservation initiative.
The program was developed by Lestari Capital in collaboration with founding partners such as Nestlé. PepsiCo, Procter & Gamble and Wilmar. Lestari Capital is a company that connects markets with nature conservation – it funds results locally through ethical and efficient mechanisms to support the adaptation of fairer market systems.
Rimba Collective complements the palm oil industry’s efforts to end deforestation by funding conservation and restoration projects across the supply chain. The initiative aims to invest in forest protection while supporting forest protection as well as economic development and job creation for local communities.
“We know that fighting deforestation in our palm oil supply chain is not enough. In order to have a lasting and meaningful impact, we are moving from a no deforestation strategy to a “forest positive” strategy, ”said Benjamin Ware, Global Head of Sustainable Sourcing and Climate Protection at Nestlé. “This means that we buy from suppliers who actively preserve and restore forests while promoting sustainable livelihoods and respecting human rights.”
“Through our involvement in the Rimba collective, we can accelerate our proactive efforts to protect forests and moors as well as human rights. It is an important pillar to achieve our commitment to zero net greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, ”he added.
The initiative will initially focus on projects in Indonesia before expanding to others across Southeast Asia. Projects are prioritized based on their potential to protect and restore large, continuous areas of natural ecosystems and critical habitats.
Other priorities include creating measurable ecosystem benefits (e.g. keeping more carbon in the soil, cleaning water and improving soil health) and livelihood resilience for local communities. All projects are verified by third parties.
