Grupo Ocho Sur, a company dedicated to the sustainable production of palm oil in Ucayali, reported today that the Directorate of Inspection and Application of Incentives (DFAI) of the Environmental Assessment and Enforcement Agency (OEFA), revoked the order to stop operations and the associated fine of 9 million soles imposed in November 2020.
This was announced by its general manager, Michael Spoor, who explained that the DFAI declared the Reconsideration Appeal presented founded on this point, resolving that the company is in the process of its Environmental Adequacy and Management Program (PAMA), before the Ministry of Agrarian Development and Irrigation (Midagri), competent authority according to law.
Michael Spoor specified that this recent decision by OEFA, as well as the resolution issued by the Vice Ministry of Development of Family Agriculture and Agrarian Infrastructure and Irrigation, the highest authority in the agricultural sector in environmental matters, confirm that Ocho Sur is in strict compliance with the regulations. current environmental protection, while completing the processing of its Environmental Adequacy Program (PAMA).
The Ocho Sur Commitment
“At Ocho Sur we are committed to developing a sustainable oil palm industry that respects the environment, laws and promotes formality. Since Ocho Sur was established and acquired its properties in 2016, we have not expanded a single hectare of oil palm,” said Spoor.
He also added that the company also has a very good relationship with the 23 communities and population centers that surround its plantations, and that, with more than US$ 140 million invested in Ucayali, Ocho Sur is the largest formal employer in the region with approximately 1,700 direct jobs and a fundamental axis of economic and social development.
Palm farming has never been a threat
“We are aware of the great needs and challenges of the people of our Ucaya region and we are convinced that only with formal and responsible private investment, poverty can be combated and the Peruvian Amazon benefited,” emphasized the general manager of Ocho Sur.
In this context, he highlighted that according to JUNPALMA figures, the hectares planted with oil palm in Peru represent 0.1% of the total area of our Amazon and only 6% of the total hectares that are cultivated with cocoa, coffee, rice and others. crops in the Peruvian jungle.
“In this framework, we can affirm that palm farming has never been a threat to the Amazon forests, as some interested actors are trying to make public opinion believe,” Michael Spoor finally indicated.
