PALMOILMAGAZINE, KUALA LUMPUR — The Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) and Nanjing Hongshan Forest Zoo (Hongshan Zoo) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to forge a long-term strategic partnership promoting biodiversity conservation and sustainable palm oil awareness in China. The agreement, signed during RT2025—the RSPO’s annual global Roundtable conference—marks a key milestone in cross-sector collaboration for conservation and sustainable consumption.
Under the MoU, RSPO and Hongshan Zoo will work together on initiatives that support biodiversity protection, public education, and the promotion of RSPO Certified Sustainable Palm Oil (CSPO). The collaboration includes awareness campaigns, educational programmes, and public engagement activities showcasing how sustainable palm oil contributes to forest conservation, wildlife habitat protection, and global climate goals.
“Biodiversity lies at the heart of RSPO’s mission. Our partnership with Hongshan Zoo demonstrates how sustainability standards and conservation institutions can reconnect consumers with nature, inspire behavioural change, and safeguard endangered ecosystems. Together, we are bridging sustainable markets with biodiversity stewardship in China and beyond,” said RSPO CEO Joseph D’Cruz, quoted from information obtained by beige-heron-208544.hostingersite.com.
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RSPO’s ongoing impact efforts continue to integrate biodiversity into sustainable palm oil practices through landscape-level conservation, protection of High Conservation Value (HCV) areas, and restoration of degraded ecosystems. As of December 2024, RSPO members have designated 425,597 hectares of HCV and High Carbon Stock (HCS) areas under protection and management across 25 countries.
Ms. Bai Yali, Deputy Director of Nanjing Hongshan Forest Zoo’s Management Office, emphasised the zoo’s commitment to environmental education. “As an urban zoo devoted to wildlife conservation, Hongshan Zoo is proud to partner with RSPO to deepen public understanding of sustainable palm oil. This collaboration will not only promote responsible consumption but also contribute to achieving global biodiversity and climate goals.”
Recognised as one of China’s leading conservation-focused zoos, Hongshan Zoo has been advancing research, rescue, and rewilding programmes for native species. Through this partnership, the zoo will incorporate CSPO awareness into its exhibitions, outreach activities, and earth-friendly product lines featuring the RSPO Trademark—helping visitors link everyday consumer choices to wildlife protection.
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This partnership also supports China’s leadership under the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF), which calls for stronger engagement from businesses and civil society to halt and reverse biodiversity loss by 2030. The RSPO–Hongshan Zoo collaboration represents a concrete step toward achieving those global commitments through inclusive, on-the-ground action. (P3)
