Zero burning replanting technique was first introduced commercially in 1985 by Sime Darby Berhad. Zero burning has since become compulsory for all oil palm replanting in Malaysia through legislation.

Proven to be the most environment-friendly technique, it was subsequently adopted as the industry standard in palm oil replanting. It was awarded the Roll of Honour in the Global 500 at Rio de Janeiro in 1992 for the commercialization of the technique.

Apart from the environment factor, this technique has also been proven superior to the slash and burn technique because of the following reasons:

• It allows complete return of organic matter to the soil. This helps to preserve, restore and improve soil chemical and fertility as well as physical properties of the soil.



• It allows immediate replanting of trees as the new stands can be planted simultaneously while felling and shredding are being done. With slash and burn technique, replanting can only be done after burning process is completely over.



• The process is not dependent on weather condition unlike previously where the process of felling and burning of the trees would be affected by wet weather resulting in delays in replanting.



• This technique recycles 90-100 tonnes of organic matter per hectare.

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