STANDARD OPERATING DOC NO : OPE-SOP01-12

PROCEDURE DATE : 5th June 2014

PAGE : 1 of 11
LAND CLEARING & PREPARATION PLANTATION OPERATION

1. OBJECTIVE
The objective of this document is to establish standard procedures and guidelines on
land clearing and preparation of new TSH oil palm estates.

2. SCOPE
This SOP applies to all land clearing and preparation activities in the TSH estates’.

3. RESPONSIBILITIES
It is the responsibility of the Estate Manager/Senior Estate Manager to ensure that
procedures on land clearing and preparation are strictly adhered to.

4. REFERENCE

Cover Crop OPE-SOP03-07

5. DEFINITION OF ACRONYMS

AGM – Assistant General Manager

AM – Assistant Manager
CD – Community Development
cm – centimetre
EM – Estate Manager
FA – Field Assistant
GM – General Manager
gm – gram
GMD – Group Managing Director
GPS – Global Positioning System
ha – hectare
km – kilometer
ltr – litre
m – meter
SAM – Senior Assistant Manager
SEM – Senior Estate Manager

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LAND CLEARING & PREPARATION PLANTATION OPERATION

6. PROCEDURES

6.1 Standards
6.1.1 Prior to commencement of land clearing, carry out land suitability
survey at 500 m x 500 m. Use soil auger to obtain soil samples at
depths of 0 – 45 cm and 45 – 90 cm to determine the soil types;
6.1.2 Conduct a semi detailed soil survey of the area;
6.1.3 Prior to field clearing, clearly demarcate and accurately define the
boundaries of the area to be developed.
6.1.4 Do not clear for development: steep areas with more than 21.8°
inclination (in Indonesia), and 25º inclination (in Sabah).
6.1.5 Reserve, conserve and protect ALL natural waterways and water
bodies as riparian areas.
6.1.6 For flat and undulating area, sub-divide fields earmarked for
clearing and development into + 50 ha blocks. However, for hilly
areas, sub-divide into 25-40 ha blocks.
6.1.7 For flat and undulating terrain on grid system, the road design and
their density depend entirely on the block size. For a 50 ha
rectangular block (stand alone block), the road density will be
about 100 m/ha.
6.1.8 In hilly terrains, build roads prior to terrace construction.
6.1.9 Where straight roads are not possible, and terraces are constructed,
the road density on the hilly terrain should range from 140 to 180
m/ha.
6.1.10 Construct proper drains to remove excess water. When designing
the drainage system, the road network must be considered
simultaneously.
6.1.11 Use chainsaws for tree felling.
6.1.12 Mechanical stacking is NOT recommended within terraced areas.
Do manual stacking in between the terraces during terrace
construction.
6.1.13 To facilitate mechanization, and if the terrain is permitting,
construct recess platforms along terraces wherever necessary.
6.1.14 Clear off timber logs and tree stumps away from all planting points
and harvester paths.
6.1.15 Level off harvesters’ paths at 2 m wide.
6.1.16 Construct a proper rest hut for every 6 planting blocks for workers,
mandores, FA, Cadets, AM and SAM to have their break time
together in the same place.
6.1.17 Establish leguminous cover crops (Mucuna bracteata) immediately
within two weeks after land clearing.

6.2 Perimeter Survey

6.2.1 Prior to commencement of any ground operation, engage a certified
surveyor to carry out perimeter survey in order to confirm the exact
position and location of the land title for all new developments.

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LAND CLEARING & PREPARATION PLANTATION OPERATION

6.2.2 Mark all perimeter boundaries with 10 cm x 10 cm hard wood

beruti pegs that have been painted red with double horizontal bands
of 5 cm width.

6.3 HCV & Riparian Boundary Marking

6.3.1 Mark jungle trees along the boundary of riparian areas and HCV
areas before land clearing begin. This applies for area after
planting.
6.3.2 Tree marking with two 4 inch (one brush stroke width) red bands, 4
inches apart at height of 5 feet from the ground. Mark trees every
20 metres at the boundaries or less at every prominent curve. See
Plate 7.4.2.
6.3.3 Construct boundary road along the estate perimeters before any
felling to prevent unauthorised felling and land clearing in riparian
or buffer zones. Width of boundary road is 6 meter from electrical
fencing and riparian or boundary markings.
6.1.18 Contractors must be briefed on riparian and HCV areas and the
prevention of activities within these areas must be included into
their SPK.
6.1.19 Place signboards at prominent areas with no hunting, no burning
and no illegal logging wording.
6.1.20 Any illegal logging, hunting, or any other activities jeopardizing
the protection of the riparian & HCV areas must be reported to the
estate management immediately.

6.4 Planting Blocking Survey

6.3.1 Survey and subdivide all planting areas into ±50 ha planting
blocks. Give a serial and sequence number for all the blocks.
6.3.2 Identify and mark all riparian reserves are as per guidelines (Table
7.1.1.). Conserve all natural riparian reserves permanently.
6.3.3 Create block boundaries by making rentices. Make a rentice by
under-brushing a clear path of 1 m wide, and mark with pegs at
every 20 m interval. Mark the pegs with a single 5 cm wide band of
bright yellow paint
6.3.4 At junctions between blocks, or where boundary lines cross a road
or a river, firmly peg permanent markers (control markers) with the
direction and block number painted in yellow colour.
6.3.5 Carry out the planting blocks survey by using GPS instruments.
Complete all planting blocks surveys at least one (1) month before
the actual land clearing work begins.
6.3.6 Assess the vegetation, terrain, and soil for each planting block.
Defer land clearing and preparation in block(s) with complex
slopes, and rocky/sandy/shallow soil(s).
6.3.7 If hard pan areas are discovered during the survey:

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LAND CLEARING & PREPARATION PLANTATION OPERATION

a) The EM/SEM/AGM in-charge must inform the Company

Agronomist immediately through email, giving all the
necessary data.
b) Demarcate the hard pan area to enable the agronomy team to
conduct a detailed soil study, to determine the size and depth of
the hard pan.
c) Resume land clearing operation in the demarcated hard pan
area following advice from the Agronomist.

6.5 Under brushing

6.4.1 Slash all saplings, creepers/climbers and undergrowths up to a
diameter of 5 cm as close to the ground as possible. The stumps
should not exceed 15 cm in height. Fully severe all vegetation.
6.4.2 Carry out under-brushing ahead of tree felling. Under-brushing in
riparian reserves are NOT allowed.

6.5 Felling
6.5.1 Felling may commence when 30% of the area allotted to each
contractor for land clearing have been under-brushed. Before
felling commences, approval and instruction must be obtained from
the GM.
6.5.2 Employ only experienced chainsaw gangs to do tree felling for
planting. Where soil and terrain are suitable, carry out mechanical
felling only with approval from the GM.
6.5.3 Completely fell all trees. DO NOT leave trees, branches and
saplings suspended. The maximum permissible height of stumps
are as follows:

Table 6.5a : Maximum Allowable Height of Stumps above Ground

Tree Diameter Maximum Allowable Height of Stumps above Ground

(cm) (m)
6 – 15 0.15
16 – 30 0.60
31 – 75 1.00
76 – 150 1.50
Above 150 At the point where the buttress roots meets the main trunk.

6.5.4 DO NOT cause blockage of roads, tracks or perimeter rentices.

Fell all trees inward from perimeter rentices. Immediately cut and
remove trees that fall onto the roads or perimeter rentices.
6.5.5 If trees fall into riparian reserves, rivers or streams, where blockage
could occur, the contractor(s) responsible must remove them.
6.5.6 DO NOT carry out felling in riparian reserves.

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LAND CLEARING & PREPARATION PLANTATION OPERATION

6.6 Roads – Main Access and Estate Roads

6.6.1 Construct main and access estate roads according to the Estate
Master Plan, after proper pre-development survey and mapping are
completed.
6.6.2 Construct roads not closer than 2 m from the edges of drains and
streams.
6.6.3 DO NOT construct roads in riparian reserves, except for crossing
purpose.
6.6.4 Construct access roads for CPO transport with a width of 10 m (in
Indonesia) or 20 m (in Sabah).
6.6.5 Trace and form 8 m wide main roads in a North-South direction at
1 km apart.
6.6.6 Trace and form 6 m wide collection roads in an East-West
direction at 250 m apart.
6.6.7 As far as possible, the gradient of the roads should be about 1:10
(or 6º slope). Whenever unavoidable, up to 1:8 (or 7.13º) is
allowed, but only for a short distance.
6.6.8 Construct road junctions on the saddle of a hill, or on the gentler
slopes of hills;
6.6.9 Avoid switchbacks and tight corners (hairpins). If unavoidable,
make sure they are wide enough to easily maneuver tractors and
trailers on them.
6.6.10 Gravel all prepared roads during the immaturity stages of the field
transplanted palms. Gravel at 30% for year 1, 30% for year 2, and
40% in year 3 after field transplanting.

6.7 Drains
6.7.1 The intensity of drains required is dependent on the field terrain
and soil characteristics;
6.7.2 When designing the drainage system, seriously consider the
sustainable management and conservation of water;
6.7.3 If cleaning and desilting of certain waterways or straightening of a
meandering river is required, a written approval from the local
authority must be obtained first.
6.7.4 Properly line, and construct main drains with a wide track-wheeled
excavator in a North-South direction. In flat areas, build collection
drains in a systematic design on only one side of the planting
block;
6.7.5 Avoid over draining in peat areas. Give a special attention to the
drainage construction here;
6.7.6 Construct the collection drains at 250 m apart;
6.7.7 Construct foot-hill drains at the base of hillocks. This will enable
rain water flow to be smoothly captured and directed to the final
outlets;
6.7.8 Construct drains using a V-ditcher bucket, or a tilt bucket to obtain
a 25° slope for the drain walls;

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LAND CLEARING & PREPARATION PLANTATION OPERATION

6.7.9 Construct weirs/stop bunds to retain the required water level and
water table;
6.7.10 Construct field drains in the middle of inter-rows so that they run
parallel to the harvester’s path;
6.7.11 Shift and flatten all drain spoils from adjacent drains onto
harvesters’ paths.

6.8 Stacking
6.8.1 Practice green stacking (or zero burning) in all land clearing
operations;
6.8.2 Complete all windrow mechanical stacking in North-South
direction, before weed regeneration;
6.8.3 In all cases for green stacking, use medium-sized bulldozers with
wide tracks to avoid ground compaction;
6.8.4 Set the bulldozer blade at 10 cm above ground level to avoid it
from scrapping off the top soil;
6.8.5 Carry out the following activities in land-forms with less than 6º
slopes:
a) Cut/chainsaw the felled logs to facilitate mechanical stacking;
b) Stack onto one windrow for every 4 planting rows. This will
facilitate the construction of the field drains in between the
inner two palm rows.
c) In extremely dense forest with large timbers where field drains
are not required, stack the felled logs in alternate avenues/inter-
rows (i.e., one for every 2 planting rows) at < 4 m wide;
d) To achieve a straight and uniform stacking, properly mark (by
using pegs) the stacking row at the front (road side), in the
middle (inspection path) and at the other end (drain side);
e) To create an inspection path, provide a 2 m wide gap (or break)
at the midpoint of the stacking row;
6.8.6 Carry out the following activities in land-forms with more than 6º
slopes:
a) After under-brushing and felling, cut the felled logs by using
chainsaw in preparation for terrace construction;
b) After terracing, tidy up the stacks by cutting the logs in the
inter-terrace areas into shorter pieces;

6.9 Planting Terraces

6.9.1 Always measure any slope in all 4 directions to determine the
average degree of the slope using an Abney Level or Inclinometer;
6.9.2 Mark the positions of the average terrace with alternate coloured
pegs at intervals of 9 m apart;
6.9.3 Construct terraces at length of about 200-250 m long using
bulldozer. In Sabah, due to regulatory requirement, only excavators
are allowed for terrace construction;

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6.9.4 The correlations between slope gradient and terrace width are as
follows:
Table 6.9a : Correlations between slope gradient and terrace width

Slope Gradient ( º ) Terrace Width (meter)

Minimum Maximum Indonesia Sabah
6 12 5
12 18 4.3
4
21.8
18 3.6
25

6.9.5 In Indonesia, construct terraces with backward slope of 15° (or 0.3
m back slope depth) to allow for eventual settling of the soil and
conserving moisture on the terraces;
6.9.6 In Sabah, construct the terrace with the following backward slopes:
a) 10° - 12° in high rainfall areas, with soil type that retain water.
b) 15° in low rainfall areas, with porous type soil or sandy;
6.9.7 Construct stop bunds of about 0.5 (±0.25) m high and 1.0 (±0.5) m
width at either 30 m intervals for Indonesia (or 20 m for Sabah)
along the terrace;
6.9.8 Lining is done on terraces by blocks, interval measurements are
taken on average slope of each hill but not on cliffs or valley;
6.9.9 The planting points on terraces shall not be closer than 1.2 m from
terrace shoulder;

6.10 Planting Platform

6.10.1 Where terrace construction is not possible due to steepness of
slope, construct planting platforms at 4 m x 4 m.
6.10.2 Line the planting points straight as in normal flat land lining
system;
6.10.3 Compact the soil in the front part of the platform to minimize
erosion.

6.11 Clearing Planting Points

6.11.1 Clear the planting points immediately after the linings of planting
points are completed, and before planting of oil palm seedlings;
6.11.2 Cut down all timber logs lying in or across the planting points, and
stumps with diameter of 45 cm and less within a radius of 2 m from
the base of a planting point to a height not exceeding 20 cm from
the ground level. Place the debris in the inter-rows;
6.11.3 If a planting point is located on or is too close to a large stump that
cannot be up-rooted, off-set/shift the planting point accordingly
along the palm rows.

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6.12 Constructing Harvester Path

6.12.1 Carry out the construction of harvesting paths immediately after
windrow stacking is completed.
6.12.2 Use excavator or bulldozer of D3 range to clear the harvesting
paths.
6.12.3 Each harvester path caters for 2 palm rows, i.e. every alternate inter
row will become a harvester path;
6.12.4 The harvesters carrying distance should not exceed 12 – 14 palms
on flat and undulating areas, or 11 palms on hilly areas;
6.12.5 Mark the middle of the harvester path with 2 m high pegs, one at
the beginning and one at the end of the path;
6.12.6 The harvester path should be 2 m wide, levelled, and with a
minimum removal of its top soil;
6.12.7 Totally remove and stack on the windrows all timbers, stumps and
debris found within the path;
6.12.8 Fill up all potholes created by the uprooting and removal of stumps,
with soil scrapped from the adjacent inter row.
6.12.9 If mechanization is planned to be employed in the future, make the
paths accessible for mini-tractors.

6.13 Rest Hut

6.13.1 Construct a rest hut in every 6 blocks in order for the workers,
mandores, FA, Cadet, AM and SAM to have their break time
together.
6.13.2 The specification as in Plate 7.4.2 and Plate 7.4.4.

6.14 Deviation Form

6.14.1 When a non-conformity or potential deviation from the SOP
occurs, the Cadet/AM/SAM must immediately report these in the
Deviation Form;
6.14.2 Utilize the Deviation Form for all operations;
6.14.3 The AGM/GM should thoroughly evaluate all issues raised in
Deviation Form before approving them;
6.14.4 If the issues reported in the Deviation Form involve the
community, refer the form to the Regional CD Head;
6.14.5 Upon the completion of the form, the AGM/GM should obtain the
acceptance of the GMD on the deviation within two (2) days after
the occurrence of the non-conformities/issues.

6.15 Assessment Record / Close Order

6.15.1 On a daily basis, use the Pre-Construction Assessment Record to
evaluate the initial work conducted, before commencement of the
land clearing operation;

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LAND CLEARING & PREPARATION PLANTATION OPERATION

6.15.2 The assessment must be conducted by the Cadet/AM/SAM, and

then confirmed by the EM/SEM/AGM;
6.15.3 The Pre-Construction Assessment Record Form consists of Rajah
Lining, Straight Lining and Terrace Lining;
6.15.4 Sampling for the assessment shall be as follows;

Table 6.15a: Minimum assessment coverage for lining by respective estate

executives.

Minimum Assessment Coverage

Designation Ratio (Row)

Percentage
(%) Rajah Straight Terrace
Lining Lining Lining
Cadet/AM/SAM 100 1:1 1:1 1:1
EM/SEM/AGM 50 1:8 1:8 1:8

6.15.5 The FA must utilize the post Assessment Record Form to assess
the performance of the land clearing operation;
6.15.6 On a daily basis, assess the progress and completion of terraces,
harvesting paths and stacking rows;
6.15.7 The Cadet/AM/SAM should check and ensure that the form is
completed accordingly, and then re-checked and confirmed by
EM/SEM/AGM;
6.15.8 Sampling for the assessment shall be as follows;

Table 16.5b: Minimum assessment coverage for terrace, stacking row and
harvester path by respective estate executives.

Minimum Assessment Coverage Post

Designation Ratio (Row)
Percentage
(%) Terrace Stacking Harvester
Row Path
FA 100 1:1 1:1 1:1
Cadet/AM/SAM 50 1:2 1:2 1:2
EM/SEM/AGM 25 1:4 1:4 1:4

6.15.9 Use ink to complete all Assessment Record Forms during the
assessment of the operations;

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LAND CLEARING & PREPARATION PLANTATION OPERATION

6.15.10 It is mandatory for each EM/SEM/AGM to check and confirm a

minimum of two Assessment Record Forms (of any operation)
daily;
6.15.11 The GM finally approves the completed form;
6.15.12 On a daily basis, the assessment of any activity should be
completed within 24 hours;
6.15.13 Close the Assessment Record for the planting block within three
(3) working days, i.e. the maximum days allowable to close the
Assessment Record are 3 working days.

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7. ATTACHMENTS:

7.1 : Tables
7.1.1 Guidelines for Riparian Reserve Identification and Marking
7.1.2 Boundary and Riparian Inspection Form

7.2 : Figures
Figure A - Control Map – Showing Plots and Access Rentice
Figure B - Block Nett Size/ Hectare Calculation
Figure C - Block Design
Figure D - Planting Platform & Switch Back/ Hairpin
Figure E - Field Drain, Collection Drain and Main Drain

7.3 : Forms
Appendix A - Checklist of Items To Be Observed During Preliminary
Land Survey & Assessment
Appendix B - Plantation Planning
Appendix C - Deviation Form
Appendix D - Terrace Assessment Record
Appendix E - Stacking Row Assessment Record
Appendix F - Harvesting Path Assessment Record
Appendix G - Rajah Lining (Pre Construction) Assessment Record
Appendix H - Straight Lining (Pre Construction) Assessment Record
Appendix I - Terrace Lining (Pre Construction) Assessment Record

7.4 : Plates
7.4.1 Felling Operation/ Green Stacking
7.4.2 Boundary and Riparian Marking
7.4.3 Terracing
7.4.4 Rest Hut Design
7.4.5 Complete Rest Hut

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