The two webinars will contribute to sessions planned during the IUCN World Conservation Congress, now scheduled to take place in January 2021.

During the two webinars, IUCN aims to:

• share the main findings of the “Oil Palm and Biodiversity: a situation analysis by the IUCN Oil Palm Task Force”;
• communicate the socio-economic dimensions of oil palm cultivation;
• showcase and discuss examples of supply chain policies and field-level biodiversity conservation /regeneration measures in oil palm plantations and landscapes;
• summarise the state of knowledge about the relative environmental and social impacts and benefits of other vegetable oils as well as their potential interrelatedness;
• discuss the challenges of smart regulation of palm oil supply chain/use; and,
• offer a springboard to identify elements of the Task Force’s next mandate (2021-2024).

Webinar I - Oil palm and biodiversity: science & company field & supply chain experiences

15 SEPTEMBER from 12:00-14:00 CET. 

This will include:

• Erik Meijaard outlining the main findings of the Task Force report;
• Truly Santika and Marcus Colchester discussing the social dimensions of oil palm cultivation; and, 
• A number of examples of biodiversity management in plantations.

Webinar II - Palm oil and other vegetable oils: policy and finance in the EU and global context

17 SEPTEMBER from 12:00-14:00 CET. 

This will include:

• Erik Meijaard and other Task Force members exploring biodiversity and social concerns in different vegetable oils, taking into account their interrelation (soy, coconut, rapeseed, sunflower shea, cotton, peanuts, maize); and,
• Heleen van den Hombergh with input other experts discussing the challenges of developing smart regulation for palm oil/vegetable oils production & consumption.

Please register at your earliest convenience (the room has a capacity of 100 people) by filling this Google form. It is recommended to attend both webinars.

Detailed agendas for these two events will be shared at the end of August. For any questions, please contact Giulia Carbone or Heleen van den Hombergh.