Under EUDR, point mapping records a single GPS coordinate and is only permitted for plots under 4 hectares; plot-level polygon geolocation traces the full plot boundary and is required for any plot of 4 hectares or larger. Both feed the same Due Diligence Statement (DDS) and combine into one supply-chain map your EU buyer can check.
The EU Deforestation Regulation (EU Regulation 2023/1115), which entered into force on 29 June 2023, does not treat “a GPS location” as one thing. It splits geolocation into two formats, and picking the wrong one is a fast way to have a Due Diligence Statement questioned or bounced. For Indonesian exporters of coffee, cocoa, rubber, and wood or furniture, knowing when a point is enough and when a polygon is mandatory is the difference between a clean filing and a last-minute scramble before customs clearance in the EU.
What is the difference between point mapping and polygon geolocation?
A point is one pair of coordinates — latitude and longitude — that says “the plot is roughly here.” A polygon is a closed chain of coordinates that traces the outline of the plot, capturing its real shape and area. Both are “plot-level geolocation” in EUDR language, because both attach the commodity to a specific piece of land rather than to a village, a co-op, or a whole sub-district.
The practical gap between them is large:
| Feature | Point mapping | Polygon geolocation |
|---|---|---|
| What it captures | one coordinate pair | the full plot boundary |
| Allowed for | plots under 4 hectares | any plot; required at 4 ha and above |
| Data effort | fast, one GPS reading | walk or trace the perimeter |
| Area proof | none — area is not derived | area calculated from the shape |
| Satellite risk-screening | limited | strong overlay against 2020 baseline |
| Best fit in Indonesia | scattered smallholder coffee and cocoa plots | estate blocks, larger rubber and timber concessions |
Because a point carries no area, a buyer’s compliance team cannot use it to confirm plot size or run a clean deforestation overlay. That is the core reason the regulation caps point use at small plots.
When does EUDR require a polygon instead of a point?
The trigger is the 4-hectare threshold. Under the regulation’s geolocation rules, a plot below 4 hectares may be described with a single point, while a plot of 4 hectares or more must be described with a polygon of its boundary. There is no in-between: a 3.9-hectare plot can be a point, a 4.1-hectare plot cannot.
Whichever format you use, the coordinates then have to survive three tests that apply to every EUDR commodity. The goods must be deforestation-free — not produced on land cleared after the 31 December 2020 cut-off date; they must be legal under Indonesian law; and they must be covered by a filed DDS carrying a unique reference number that is quoted on the EU customs declaration and shared with the logistics operator before clearance. Geolocation is what lets a reviewer point a satellite record at your exact land and check the 2020 baseline, so a sloppy point on a plot that should have been a polygon undermines all three conditions at once.
How do points and polygons roll into a full supply-chain map?
Individual coordinates are only the raw material. Each point or polygon has to connect to the farmer, the collection point, and the processing site so a buyer can trace a single export lot back to the land it grew on. That assembly is exactly what EUDR supply chain mapping is built to deliver: it turns a pile of coordinates into a traceable chain of custody from farm to export container.
A workable map usually layers the following:
- Plot geometry — the points (small plots) and polygons (larger plots) themselves, each tagged with a plot ID.
- Farmer and land records — land-tenure or land-use-rights documents, farmer contracts, and legality certificates such as SVLK for timber and furniture.
- Aggregation nodes — collection points and warehouses where lots from many plots are combined.
- Processing sites — mills, dryers, or workshops, with the volumes flowing through them.
- A negligible-risk assessment — plus mitigation steps recorded wherever risk is not negligible.
The European Commission’s practical guidance notes that operators do not have to publish exact coordinates publicly. A regional map that names the kecamatan (sub-district) and shows area scale can reassure a compliance team while protecting farmer privacy — the precise geometry stays inside your DDS records, not on a public page.
What commonly goes wrong with point-only mapping?
Point mapping is cheaper, so exporters over-use it. The recurring mistakes:
- Using a point on a plot that is 4 hectares or larger — an automatic format failure.
- Dropping the pin at the farmer’s house or the road, not the growing area — the coordinate then falls outside the real plot on satellite review.
- Bundling several smallholder plots under one point — traceability collapses because volumes cannot be tied to specific land.
- Treating a legality certificate as a substitute — SVLK, ISPO, FSC, and Rainforest Alliance can feed the due-diligence system, but none alone proves deforestation-free status against the 2020 baseline, and none removes the geolocation requirement.
What should Bali exporters collect before the deadline?
Start a farmer-plot registry now. For each supplier, record whether the plot is a point or a polygon, capture GPS or perimeter data in the field, and store the supporting evidence — legal certificates, land documents, field photos, and any independent survey or audit results — so records can be produced during enforcement inspections. A single DDS can in practice cover repeat shipments of the same verified supply base while the underlying data stays current.
On timing: as announced, large and medium operators must comply by 30 December 2026 and micro and small operators by 30 June 2027. Enforcement dates have shifted before — several Indonesian sources still cite 30 December 2025 and a 30 June 2026 transition — so treat every date as of 2026, subject to change, and confirm the current position with the European Commission at environment.ec.europa.eu and with your EU importer. Non-compliance can mean rejected shipments, goods blocked at EU customs, and penalties reaching up to 4% of an operator’s EU-derived turnover.
This is general guidance, not legal advice; confirm current EUDR requirements with the European Commission, your EU importer, and a licensed customs/legal adviser before acting.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I submit a single GPS point for a plot larger than 4 hectares?
No. Under EUDR geolocation rules, a single point is only accepted for plots under 4 hectares. At 4 hectares or above you must supply a polygon that traces the plot boundary, which also lets the area be calculated and checked against the 31 December 2020 deforestation cut-off. Confirm current thresholds with the European Commission at environment.ec.europa.eu.
Does point-mapped land still need deforestation-free proof against 2020?
Yes. The format — point or polygon — does not change the substance. Every plot, however small, must still show it was not produced on land deforested after the 31 December 2020 cut-off, that it is legal under Indonesian law, and that it is covered by a filed Due Diligence Statement with a unique reference number quoted on the EU customs declaration.
What if my smallholder polygons overlap or leave gaps?
Overlaps and gaps usually signal a mapping or boundary error, and they raise questions during a buyer’s risk screening. Re-survey the disputed edges, reconcile them against land-tenure documents, and assign each hectare to one plot ID only. Clean, non-overlapping geometry keeps your negligible-risk assessment credible; confirm any dispute-resolution expectations with your EU importer before filing.