Despite comprising less than 0.5% of the world's landmass, Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands are home to more than 5% of its biodiversity – much of it endemic to the region.
New oil palm plantations are the leading cause of forest conversion and carbon emissions, so we are committed to achieving an optimal balance between social development, conservation and agriculture.
Since 2013, we have upheld our strict no-deforestation commitments. NBPOL continues to be a strong advocate of minimising harmful environmental impacts, maintaining forest preservation, and protecting ecosystems.
Responsible Expansion
Before any new development, NBPOL conducts rigorous assessments and follows the processes outlined in the RSPO procedures. This approach includes understanding the conservation value and carbon stock impacts of planned developments and surrounding community social impact assessments.
We prepare estimates for an implementation plan. This includes mapping high conservation value and high carbon stock areas in the vicinity of existing estates to delimit areas for potential conversion and protection. Our continued field presence also determines local community land-use agreements. We then demarcate the required areas for living space and food security. The entire engagement procedure is a dynamic process of integrated land-use planning.
Protecting Biodiversity and Managing Conservation Areas
We have set aside and conserve over 22,000 hectares – accounting for more than 10% of operational land – that will not be subject to any development. These areas have been identified as high conservation value land or high carbon stock that requires management and monitoring. NBPOL has implemented a strict no-hunting policy; we enforce this policy with all the smallholders we work with.
We also document IUCN Red List and CITES species found within our leases. Dedicated teams protect and conserve conservation areas to restore and rehabilitate any identified areas of degradation. Continual surveillance is by satellite monitoring, drones, spot checks, and patrolling by teams on the ground.
We operate multiple conservation and restoration programmes across our sites. These are facilitated by our employees, technical experts and local community partnerships. Activities include conserving endangered and threatened species, increasing forest planted areas, and rehabilitating shorelines with mangroves to support marine habitats and prevent land erosion.
The Queen Alexandra’s Birdwing Butterfly Breeding Project Conservation of the world’slargest butterfly With a wingspan of between 20 to 30cm, Queen Alexandra’s Birdwing Butterfly (QABB) (Ornithoptera alexandrae) is the world’s largest and one of the rarest butterflies. It is Endemic to Papua New Guinea’s Northern Province (also known as Oro Province). It can only be found in two locations: the forest areas of the Managalas Plateau, 1,000 metres above sea level, and the coastal lowlands of the Popondetta Plains. QABB numbers in the Managalas Plateau are relatively healthy, but on the Popondetta Plains numbers are small and patchy.
The QABB is one of only three butterflies listed in Appendix I of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) and is classified as endangered in the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s Red List of Threatened Species. On a positive note, the Papua New Guinea government declared the Managalas Plateau a Conservation Area in 2017, and it is now a protected National Park.
However, much more needs to be done to ensure the survival of this unique species.
Currently the greatest threat to QABB is poaching to supply the illegal wildlife trade. Good, preserved specimens can fetch as much as $12,000 on the international black market. This must be stopped urgently.
The QABB Project captive breeding programme We are privileged that part of New Britain Palm Oil Limited’s (NBPOL) Higaturu operations is home to the QABB butterfly. Consequently, we have formally designated certain forest areas within the company’s lease area to preserve its natural habitat so that the butterfly can thrive in a legally protected environment.
To further strengthen our conservation efforts, with a long-term aim that the QABB will no longer be an endangered species, we have been able to build and equip a new laboratory, flight cages and foodplant nurseries. This has been established at the company’s secure residential and operational facilities in our attempt to breed the QABB in captivity.
Our objective is to rear safely and release QABB into its previously inhabited areas, which have been enriched with additional foodplants.
Some fundamental questions need to be addressed as the breeding programme continues to develop. Based on molecular genetic analysis conducted by collaborators in France, we now know there is little genetic variation between the sub-populations. However, they may still have different ecological requirements, even in their specific food plants. This is vital information needed by the project for breeding success. Before any releases are conducted, past surveys of existing populations need to be consolidated and possibly repeated so that a conservation baseline is established to measure any future success.
As QABB species is so rare, we have developed breeding protocols with a closely related but common species – the Common Birdwing Butterfly (Ornithoptera priamus).
We only began work on the QABB breeding programme once we demonstrated successful Common Birdwing Butterfly egg-to-adult life cycles. We noted the butterflies were naturally feeding, courting, and mating in captivity.
Inside the rearing facility Construction of the breeding laboratory began in February 2018 and was completed in May 2019. We also built staff accommodation and hired full-time research technicians, ground staff, and a Lead Entomologist. The facility contains two primary structures: the breeding laboratory and the flight cages. The laboratory has a bespoke ventilation system to recreate the temperature and humidity of the natural forest habitat but using HEPA (high efficiency particulate air) filtered positive pressure to keep conditions sterile. The laboratory hosts the larvae where they are fed until they pupate. We grow the Aristolochia vine species that the larvae feed on in specially designated onsite nurseries. Once the larvae have pupated, and the pupae are close to emerging as butterflies, they are moved to cool dark boxes to enable the adult butterflies to dry and harden their wings for 24-48 hours after emergence. They are then transferred to flight cages designed to replicate the QABB’s natural environment. These are large tunnel-shaped enclosures, the largest measuring 30m long by 12m wide and 9m tall.
We are constantly working on improving the flight cage conditions and also enhancing our knowledge of QABB behaviour within the captive rearing environment. The results are promising; however, the biggest hurdle is getting male QABB to successfully mate with females (it is not a problem we’ve observed with the closely related species). The strategy to address this is two-fold, i) creating as near to natural conditions (space, temperature, humidity, vegetation and shade) in the very large flight cage, and ii) perfecting a hand-mating procedure.
Working with communities, organisations and partners A significant component of this project involves working with local communities, such as at the Hombareta Butterfly Conservation Reserve. It is hard to overstate the importance of the QABB to local communities. The Oro Provincial flag includes the QABB (representing wildlife) on a green background (for vegetation). QABB sightings in this region are rare. Given the local community’s proximity to the QABB natural habitat, we will seek their help in locating and nurturing this butterfly. We have supported this programme by building a guesthouse in one of the villages in Afore (Managlas Plateau) near a birdwing butterfly farm to house researchers and visitors to the area.
The QABB have long been targeted by poachers. Unfortunately, some community members have been coerced to help meet this growing demand. We are actively encouraging local stakeholders to shift their attention towards a conservation focus, however we also work closely with local community-based organisations, such as Partners with Melanesians (PWM), to help in butterfly conservation efforts in the Managalas Plateau Conservation Area. NBPOL is grateful for support from the PNG Government through the Conservation and Environment Protection Authority (CEPA). They closely monitor the project’s progress and approved the permits to handle and breed the birdwing butterflies in captivity.
Since 2017, the project has been very generously financed by the Sime Darby Foundation (Yayasan Sime Darby (YSD). In addition to financing, YSD’s assistance in programme implementation has been invaluable. The project will run to August 2024. After this, we hope to raise independent funding to ensure that the project is maintained into the foreseeable future to protect the future of this remarkable butterfly.
Fire Monitoring and Management
Since 1969, NBPOL has been practising zero burning across our palm operations. Our sugarcane harvesting process is also fully mechanised, so we do not practice conventional burning techniques.
Our estates and areas within a 5-km radius are continually monitored to ensure we remain alert to any potential fire outbreaks. This is achieved through Sime Darby Plantation's remote sensing platform powered by NASA satellite data around-the-clock monitoring. All hotspots and fires are investigated and recorded. Firefighting drills are also routinely conducted across our estates so employees can be responsive to any fire risks.
All cases are reported on Sime Darby Plantation's Hotspot Alert Dashboard. Hotspot data is also available via the RSPO's publicly available platform, GeoRSPO.
Many fires occur because of the local communities’ custom of using fire for hunting and clearing gardens. We are cognisant that these are typically mainly human-made issues and part of traditions over which we have limited to no control. However, we continue to work closely with landowners in an attempt to mitigate any contributing factors.
Reducing Carbon Footprint
We are committed to the ongoing reduction of our greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and carbon footprint at our palm oil operations. To monitor our progress, we subscribe to the RSPO Palm GHG calculator. Our most significant source of emissions is from the impact of previous land-use change and palm oil mill effluent (POME) from our mills. Our largest site in West New Britain is responsible for more than half of our combined net GHG emissions. These emissions are due to the plant's size and because most of the area was developed as greenfield, whereas other sites were created on grassland or previously cultivated land.
To minimise our carbon footprint, we have invested in carbon reduction facilities and set targets to reduce our GHG emission intensity. NBPOL operates biogas plants in West New Britain to facilitate emission reduction. These supply power to the local electricity grid, housing compounds, workshops, offices, and the Kumbango Oil Refinery (operated by our parent company).
We also recycle our biomass waste back into our operations, which contributes to reducing emissions. Our empty fruit bunches are applied back at the plantations as compost, effluent from our mills is treated and used as irrigation for the fields, and palm kernel shells are used as fuel for boilers at our mills.
Operating climate-positive plantations at Ramu Since 2011, our Ramu Agricultural Industries (RAI) operations have been climate positive. Compared to our other sites which were developed on forested areas, Ramu's plantations were developed on grasslands and former sugar plantations, which store very little carbon in the form of biomass. This means the carbon sequestrated by planted oil palm trees more than compensate for carbon emissions from RAI's operations (such as fertiliser, fuel, energy use and historical land clearing). Consequently, our Ramu operations create an environmental benefit by removing additional carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
Beef and emissions We understand that beef production is an emissions-intensive industry. However, nutrition deficiency is prevalent throughout much of Papua New Guinea, mainly due to a lack of animal protein. This deficiency is a contributing factor to children's poor development and growth. Therefore, the cattle farming industry's primary objective is meeting the growing demand for beef consumption at an affordable price.
Chemical and Pest Management
We continuously strive to reduce our chemical usage according to leading certification schemes.
For our oil palm operations, this is achieved through biological controls, wherever possible, and by strict monitoring of pesticide use. Our integrated pest management strategy and methods include ground cover management, maintaining nectar-producing plants, and using high-quality planting materials to suppress pests and diseases. Our approach helps initiate early control responses, whereby we mitigate smaller weed infestations or insect pests by manual weeding or hand picking. We also train smallholder extension officers in the early detection and reporting of potential outbreaks. Our R&D team is continuously reviewing and improving our use of biological controls through a long-term R&D programme through various methods.
PNG sugarcane is an indigenous crop that is highly vulnerable to localised pests and diseases. But it is highly resistant to biological methods. Limited chemical aerial spraying to control pests continues to be necessary at our Ramusugar operations until alternatives are available. This is done to ripen the canes after rain and control economically damaging moth borers. Aerial spraying is strictly limited to our sugar operations and is not applied to our oil palm.
Water Management and Protection
The shores of West New Britain are part of the Coral Triangle and home to some of the most extraordinary marine life and reefs in the world. NBPOL operates in regions surrounded by extensive coastal reefs. Aside from conducting annual reef check programmes, we strive to ensure efficient water use at our operations and minimise impacts to waterways.
Most of our operations are in areas with high rainfall with little need for irrigation or competition for water sources. We mainly draw water from local rivers and boreholes for use at our mills, for irrigation at our palm oil nurseries, and at a limited area at our Ramu Agricultural Industries operations. Water is also distributed to supply houses and offices.
All mill by-product – palm oil mill effluent (POME) – is treated before being discharged into waterways, and we ensure biological oxygen demand (BOD) levels meet the highest standards.