APRIL Group Statement on FSC Memorandum of Understanding Suspension
The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) has advised APRIL Group of the suspension of our Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for the application of the FSC Remedy Framework for past harms, effective 26 September 2025. This decision follows a conflict that occurred on 22 September 2025 between the personnel of PT Toba Pulp Lestari[i] (TPL), and protestors at a TPL concession area in North Sumatra.
We express our deep concern for the welfare of all parties involved in this terrible incident, particularly those who were injured. Allegations of violence are taken with the utmost gravity and acts of violence by any party are contrary to our company’s core commitments.
FSC’s decision to suspend the MOU is premature.
APRIL has publicly committed to conducting an independent investigation to determine the facts of the TPL incident, analyse the root causes and recommend corrective and preventive measures to ensure no recurrence of similar conflicts in the future. TPL has agreed to cooperate fully with the independent investigation. The report and recommendations of the investigator will be provided to FSC and other stakeholders, which would then enable FSC to formulate an objective and informed position on the incident and corrective actions required.
The immediate suspension of the MOU by FSC pre-empts the conduct and findings of this independent investigation. FSC’s core principles of fairness and equity should have allowed APRIL an opportunity to present a clear plan of action and a firm timeline to address the challenges, or at the very least, provide an explanation, prior to being penalized with a suspension.
Remedy delayed is remedy denied.
This suspension of our MOU and activities under the FSC Remedy Framework risks delaying and ultimately, denying the delivery of remedy to the local communities and rights holders, many of whom have expressed strong support for the process but have also grown weary of discussions and criticisms on processes and methodologies.
FSC’s decision risks losing momentum and eroding the considerable trust in the process that FSC and APRIL have conscientiously engendered among the impacted and affected rights holders who have been eagerly awaiting remedy.
What is ultimately at risk here is the fate of the Remedy Framework and the remedy opportunities it offers for the environment and the local communities.
The Remedy Framework has been constantly undermined at every possible opportunity by critical stakeholders under the guise of protecting FSC’s credibility. It was never given a chance at a meaningful implementation as every step forward was challenged with different interpretations, impossible expectations, and agendas that are in reality opposed to the spirit of remedy.
These demands will inevitably make the Remedy Framework so impossibly complex that it would be rendered moot and un-implementable.
Too often, the Remedy Framework has been interpreted as a punitive instrument instead of an opportunity for restoration, healing and remedy of environmental and social harms.
This is the real challenge to the Remedy Framework and to FSC’s credibility. And we urge FSC and all concerned stakeholders to recognize this and how it hinders any attempt by FSC to strengthen its relevance and to deliver impact on the ground.
APRIL fully believes in the potential of the Remedy Framework to facilitate healing and remedy for past harms.
For close to 10 years now, we have been engaging fully and earnestly in the process to end our disassociation with FSC. As the first case of Remedy Framework implementation, we have always sought to work collaboratively and constructively with FSC and well-meaning stakeholders on how to effectively implement the Framework.
We urge FSC to consider the broader implications of this decision and to confront the real challenges that threaten the spirit and intent of the Remedy Framework.
We encourage FSC to maintain focus on the ultimate goal of delivering long delayed remedy for the environment and impacted rights holders. We call on FSC and concerned stakeholders to carefully examine whether this suspension will serve that goal or will, in fact, imperil it.
