• The applied research group exists because the Netherlands, through international agreements and trade, is closely connected with tropical regions. It aligns with the policy letter “International commitment to forest conservation and restoration” from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality, dated 9 March 2020.
• The Netherlands and the EU have introduced a new directive (EUDR) to ensure that the import of key agricultural and forestry products from tropical countries does not lead to deforestation. The applied research group contributes to finding solutions to reduce this deforestation.
• The applied research group is closely connected with the BSc programmes Forest and Nature Management and International Development Management, as well as the MSc programme Agricultural Production Chain Management. Students undertake internships and conduct their thesis research within ongoing projects. Project experiences and networks are incorporated into the curriculum.
• The field of work includes local and international NGOs, companies, governments, local forest communities, and local educational institutions.

• Sustainable Palm Oil Plantations. The debate surrounding palm oil and sustainability has been ongoing for several years. On one hand, the cultivation of palm oil offers unparalleled opportunities for the agro-food industry and local farmers in tropical countries. On the other hand, there is significant protest from environmental groups and local communities due to land rights violations and severe environmental degradation. In the SEnSOR (Socially and Environmentally Sustainable Oil Palm Research) project, we collaborate with colleagues from the UK, Malaysia, and Indonesia to improve the criteria and indicators of sustainable palm oil. This enables palm oil buyers to more confidently determine whether palm oil is truly sustainably cultivated. The project, which began in 2015, has produced a series of background documents for the RSPO (Round Table on Sustainable Palm Oil). These can be downloaded from our website www.sensorproject.net and are used by stakeholders in the palm oil industry, NGOs, and government policymakers. Additionally, we provide advice to the RSPO on developing improved guidelines for certifying smallholder palm oil farmers.
• Reforestation in Ghana :Over the past decades, Ghana has lost a significant portion of its tropical forests. The deforested areas suffer from severe erosion, have lost much of their biodiversity, and do not provide income for the local population. Since 2016, we have been training the middle management of a teak plantation in north-eastern Ghana. The training focuses on enhancing knowledge and awareness in areas such as tree planting, forest fire management, monitoring, and plantation management.The project results in better-trained personnel who are more aware of their important role in managing the plantation and the surrounding area. By planting teak trees and establishing green buffer zones, the area is re-greened, increasing biodiversity and providing employment for the local population. Currently, more than 1,000 local workers are employed at the plantation, and initiatives are being taken in the surrounding area for further greening with other fruit trees.

All publications of the applied research group can be found on Greeni, the online library for green higher education.

Would you like to know more about the associate applied research group or its projects? Feel free to contact:

Peter van der Meer

Associate applied research group leader Oil Palm & Tropical Forests

Email: peter.vandermeer@hvhl.nl
Telephone: +316 51 31 2665