Guthrie denies links to Indonesia forest fires, says no active blazes found on its plantations
SD Guthrie Berhad (formerly Kumpulan Guthrie Berhad) has denied allegations that its subsidiaries or employees caused forest fires in Indonesia, saying recent inspections found no active fires on its plantations and no evidence linking its operations...
Malaysian plantation company Guthrie has rebuffed claims that its subsidiaries or employees sparked forest fires in Indonesia, stating that recent inspections have not revealed any active fires or evidence connecting its operations to the reported blazes. In a statement on Tuesday, the company clarified that several entities mentioned in public reports are not owned, managed, or controlled by Guthrie.
Guthrie contends that certain allegations may stem from outdated or inaccurate information, such as old land-use rights maps that do not accurately reflect present ownership or operational boundaries.
The company maintains that the oil palm trees in the affected areas are young and productive, dismissing claims that they were mature and required clearance. Guthrie has been adhering to a Zero-Burning Policy since 1985 and remains committed to the principles of No Deforestation, No Peat, and No Exploitation. To prevent fires, the company employs various strategies, including real-time water-level monitoring, groundwater monitoring in peat areas, moisture control, and community-based fire-prevention programs.
Additionally, Guthrie provides training in responsible land management to local smallholders and farmers.
Should Guthrie detect any fires within or near its operational boundaries, it will take immediate action to address the situation, irrespective of the cause. Guthrie's Indonesian subsidiary, Minamas Plantation, operates 67 firefighting teams consisting of 1,005 trained personnel, backed by drones and infrared monitoring covering its plantation concessions and approximately 322,000 hectares of adjacent community land.
The group allocates around 3.5 billion rupiah, or RM800,000 per month, to maintain and deploy these firefighting resources.
From January to September, Guthrie's firefighting teams reported extinguishing 2,411 fires, with 2,376 occurring on community land outside its concessions. The company reassures that efforts to combat fires beyond its operational boundaries should not be construed as evidence of its involvement in the incidents. Guthrie reaffirms its dedication to collaborating with Indonesian authorities and other stakeholders to tackle forest and land fires and urges that claims against the company be substantiated by credible evidence.
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