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Sinoe County – The Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) has closed the long-standing complaint against Golden Veroleum Liberia (GVL), following a final directive from the RSPO Complaints Panel. This move ends restrictions on new developments in Butaw and Tarjuowon that had been paused during the complaint period.
The complaint alleged that GVL did not fully follow Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) principles in its developments, and was first filed by Green Advocates on behalf of communities in Sinoe.
Following the complaint, the RSPO asked GVL to cease all land development in Butaw and Tarjuowon until the matter was resolved.
To address these grievances, GVL engaged the services of The Forest Trust (now Earthworm Foundation) to conduct ground investigations and advise the company on improved implementation of FPIC processes.
GVL also launched its Sustainability Action Plan to further strengthen its social and environmental protections and ensure continued compliance with RSPO Principles and Criteria and other sustainability commitments.
GVL welcomes the ongoing efforts of the Government of Liberia, host communities and all stakeholders, including its staff, that have led to this resolution. GVL remains committed to fulfilling the obligations contained in its Concession Agreement and the Principles and Criteria of RSPO.
The company also reiterates its commitments to protecting the environment, developing economic opportunities and improving the livelihoods of communities around its operational areas.
