FGV Annual Report 2020

Managing human-wildlife conflict Some of our plantations are located in areas classified as ‘Wildlife Managed Areas’ where there is the likelihood of human-wildlife conflict that are best avoided. To prevent such incidents, we have developed guidelines to manage potential human-wildlife conflict. The guidelines call for the identification of wildlife threats in and around plantations. Since our goal is conservation of these wildlife species, our action plan consists of monitoring and creating awareness among our workers and nearby communities of the wildlife in the area. This includes prohibition of any illegal hunting of wildlife activities in the plantation, except special privileges granted for local communities granted by authorities. The scope of these guidelines is aligned with Malaysian Sustainable PalmOil (MSPO) and Roundtable on Sustainable PalmOil (RSPO) requirements. IUCN Red List: Species of concern in FGV operations Sun Bear Conservation Programme One of our signature conservation projects is the Sun Bear Conservation Programme (SBCP), a collaboration between the Malaysian Nature Society, Department of Wildlife and National Parks Peninsular Malaysia and Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia. The sun bear is the smallest bear species which is indigenous to Southeast Asia and has been categorised as ‘Vulnerable’ on the IUCN’s Red List of Threatened species. SBCP is involved in the rescue and rehabilitation of injured/ orphaned/ displaced sun bears and releasing back to the wild. In 2019, 13 sun bears were rescued and six released near Tasik Kenyir (Terengganu) and the Royal Belum Forest (Perak). In 2020, 22 were rescued, 16 rehabilitated and 13 released. From 2015 to 2020, FGV has possibly set a world record as 52 sun bears have been released into their natural habitat through SBCP. In addition, SBCP is preparing a training module for primary and secondary schools to build awareness on the importance of sun bear conservation. The SBCP Program, has developed three documents namely ‘Guideline inManaging Sun bear inCaptivity’, ‘Guideline onConflictManagement for Sun bear’ and ‘Malayan Sun Bear Conservation Action Plan’. We envisage these guidelines will be useful reference tools for interested parties such as conservation centres, zoos, researches centres, NGOs and wildlife conservationists. International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Extinction Risk Number of species in areas affected by FGV operations Critically endangered Endangered Vulnerable Near threatened Least concern 2 7 6 2 83 FGV fully funds the SBCP and has to date contributed around RM2.3 million. The collaboration has strong support from Citizen Action Groups known as Sahabat Beruang Matahari (Friends of the Sun Bears) that aim to foster a community awareness and empathy for environmental issues, especially the conservation of the indigenous sun bear and other threatened wildlife species. As at 2020, there were more than 200 members in regions, namely, Kuala Lipis (Pahang), Kuala Terengganu (Terengganu), Sahabat (Sabah), Gerik (Perak) and Mersing (Johor). 157 Who We Are How We Operate How We Are Governed Additional Information Sustainability Matters Statement & Discussion By Our Leaders