"Continuously forested areas are defined as areas where trees have reached, or can reach, at least heights of 5 meters, making up a crown cover of more than 30%," states the document in laying out its definition of forest. "They would normally include forest, forest plantations and other tree plantations such as palm oil. Short rotation coppice may qualify if it fulfils the height and canopy cover criteria."
"This means, for example, that a change from forest to oil palm plantation would not per se constitute a breach of the [sustainability] criterion. A change form short rotation coppice to annual agricultural crops could constitute a breach of the criterion."
The regulations would allow the conversion of rainforest to oil palm plantations but not annual crops like corn, soy, or rapeseed. In other words, it appears to open a gaping loophole in its sustainability criteria.
Environmental groups quickly condemned the plan.
"This ...