Written by Mohd Anuar Amirkadra, MPOCC

Borneo Pygmy elephants (Elephas maximus borneensis) inhabit the jungles of northern Borneo, Malaysia, and Indonesia. They are the smallest elephant subspecies in Asia. Long tails that occasionally touch the ground, enormous ears, and straighter tusks are distinguishing characteristics. The Bornean elephant, often known as the Borneo Pygmy elephants due to its petite stature, is the largest mammal on the island, standing between 2.6 and 3.0 metres tall. According to Natural Habit Adventure, there are only about 1,500 Pygmy elephants surviving in the wild, the majority of which are in Sabah, Malaysian Borneo.

Due to the construction of roads and infrastructure, as well as the modification of their habitat for agriculture, palm oil plantations, and logging, Pygmy elephants are losing their forest homes as the world's population increases. Elephants who have been relocated and whose food sources have been diminished are killed in subsequent conflicts when they trample or graze on human fields. An estimated 20% of elephants in the Lower Kinabatangan Wildlife Sanctuary in Sabah are damaged by unlawful traps intended for lesser animals.

Malaysia has introduced the Malaysian Sustainable Palm Oil (MSPO), which is administered by the Malaysian Palm Oil Certification Council (MPOCC), an agency of the Ministry of Plantation Industry and Commodities. Since 31 December 2019, it has been mandated for all oil palm operators, including small farmers, plantations, and millers. The standards were reviewed by a panel of multi-stakeholders after five years as a voluntary scheme in order to enhance the requirements, bring them up to speed with local and international sustainable palm oil ratification, and meet the global demand for palm oil products derived responsibly.

Beginning 31 December 2019, the MSPO cut-off date for no conversion of natural forest, protected areas, and High Conservation Value areas has been adapted to the revised MSPO MS2530:2022 standards, hence strengthening the criteria for new planting. It will help secure and protect the habitat of the Pygmy elephant in Sabah. In addition, oil palm cultivation is prohibited in areas with high topography above 25°C and 300 metres above sea level, fragile and marginal soils, peat land, and the riparian zone, unless permitted by state authorities in areas where land matters fall under state control. If permitted by the Sabah state government, the demanding Environmental Impact Evaluation (EIA) and High Conservation Value (HCV) assessment shall be conducted in compliance with legal requirements and the scheme owner's restrictions.

MSPO standards are based on local and national laws and regulations, as well as international ratification. The operators of oil palms in Sabah shall comply with legal and other requirements. The Borneo Pygmy elephant is fully protected by the First Schedule of the Sabah Wildlife Conservation Enactment of 1997. In 2016, the state government revised the statute to include stiffer penalties for wildlife offences. Section 25 (1) of the statute imposes an RM250,000 fine and a five-year jail sentence for convicted offenders. Any amendment of laws related to the palm oil industry will apply to MSPO requirements under the principle three (3) of compliances with legal and other requirements for all palm oil operators.

MSPO is also developing optimal management and production practises for palm oil products. Individuals handling and being exposed to chemicals must receive proper training, and only pesticides authorised by the Department of Agriculture shall be used for maintenance and upkeeping works in the field to reduce possible undesirable to the wildlife. This applies to the entire of oil palm supply chain, including small farmers. As a basic operating process, the emergency response plan must be implemented, so planters are aware of how to handle elephant conflicts and how to report them to the proper authorities.

In addition, data on protected species, such as Pygmy elephants, must be collected inside or adjacent to the management area, and appropriate actions must be performed in compliance with the HCV assessment and the needs by the local authorities. The management of palm oil operator shall emphasise commitment to continual improvement in the MSPO policy of principle one (1) MSPO standard. Shortcomings in the administration of the company will be brought to the annual management review to ensure the suitability, adequacy and effectiveness of the company’s procedure.

Moreover, the Malaysian government has taken steps to support sustainable practises through the Ministry of Plantation Industries and Commodities' supplementary oil palm regulations.

• Limit the total area of oil palm cultivation to 6.5 million hectares by 2023.

• Implement the prohibition on new oil palm plantations in peatland areas and impose stronger regulations on existing plantations in these locations.

• Implement the prohibition on converting permanent forest reserves to palm oil or other agricultural crops; and

• Provide the public with an official map of oil palm plantations around the nation to increase openness.

The Ministry of Plantation Industries and Commodities (MPIC) established the Malaysian Palm Oil Green Conservation Fund (MPOGCF) in 2021 to support the Malaysian Palm Oil Wildlife Conservation Fund's conservation initiatives (MPOWCF). MPOGCF will create, collaborate on, and support environmental and conservation projects associated with the Malaysian palm oil business, as well as strongly promote sustainable practises within the industry through strong commitment and networking with a variety of stakeholders.

Near February 2020, the Sabah Wildlife Department (SWD) signed the Elephant Grass Planting Project (Napier Grass) in Brumas, and route planting began in January 2022. This is a habitat enhancement initiative aiming at encouraging elephants to utilise wildlife corridors and minimising human-elephant conflicts, ultimately leading to cohabitation between humans and elephants. This another step taken by the Malaysian government to safeguards the endangered species such Borenon Pygmy Elephant, Malayan Tiger etc.