Guthrie nafi cetus kebakaran hutan di Indonesia

Guthrie has denied allegations that its employees or subsidiaries started a forest fire in Indonesia, stating the accusations lack strong evidence. In a statement, the company said recent field inspections did not detect active fires on any of its concessions aside from denying involvement in several firms linked in a public report.

Some firms accused of being linked to Guthrie were not owned, managed, or controlled by the company. Guthrie emphasized that its efforts to work with authorities to quench fires outside its operational areas should not be seen as evidence of its involvement in starting forest fires. The company takes various preventive measures such as monitoring ground and subsurface water levels, soil moisture control, and community-based fire prevention programs.

Since 1985, Guthrie has implemented strict fire prevention standards across its operating areas and supports deforestation-free, land-clearing-free, and exploitation-free development. When a fire is detected within or near Guthrie's operational areas, the company takes immediate action regardless of the cause. Guthrie's Indonesian subsidiary, Minamas Plantation, has 67 fire-fighting teams comprising 1,005 trained personnel and is supported by drones and thermal infrared monitoring covering concession areas and about 322,000 hectares of community land around the operation.

Guthrie contested a report that allegedly referred to an old and inaccurate Work Title Claim, pointing out the status of ownership or operational boundaries at the time was not reflected in the report. The company denied statements suggesting that mature oil palm trees needed to be cut down for clean-up, as the involved trees were still young and productive.

Guthrie further clarified that the age of the trees did not support the claim of intentional fire starting.