JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) — Greenpeace and WWF have suspended their relationship with one of Indonesia's leading pulp and paper companies, saying it didn't live up to promises to stop clearing virgin forests and peatlands.
The two organizations were members of an advisory committee for Asia Pacific Resources International, better known as April, that the company set up to help it meet conservation commitments.
Both conservation groups said they severed ties because April built canals to drain peatlands and provided misleading information about that, among other reasons.
Greenpeace campaigner Andy Tait said on Friday that Greenpeace and WWF's withdrawal could have "adverse consequences" for the company's business globally and cause it regulatory problems in Indonesia.
Greenpeace said in a Dec. 8 statement that the committee was "repeatedly and consistently misled" and there was no point in continuing the relationship. WWF, in a Dec. 9 statement, said it suspended the relationship in November.
Indonesia is cutting down more forests than any other country as land is cleared for palm oil and pulp wood plantations.