Jakarta – Forest Watch Indonesia (FWI) has revealed that the government’s ambitious plan to establish 4 million hectares of energy plantations has the potential to add to Indonesia’s deforestation and forest governance problems. The project, although intended to reduce carbon emissions, is considered to worsen environmental conditions and increase the risk of deforestation.
According to FWI’s Campaign, Advocacy and Media Manager, Anggi Putra Prayoga, the development of energy plantations has resulted in the loss of around 55,000 hectares of natural forest and threatens another 420,000 hectares.
“The plan of the Ministry of ATR/BPN to build 4 million hectares of land specifically for energy plantations during 2016-2025 exacerbates forest and land governance,” Anggi said in his statement on Monday, July 15. According to him, “natural forests that should be preserved are cut down for energy crops, triggering an endless cycle of emission debt”.
Indonesia has set a national energy mix target of 23 per cent by 2025 through the National Energy Policy. However, to achieve this target, the MoEF plans to release 6.91 million hectares of forest area, with 78.39 per cent of it for oil palm plantations and 0.44 million hectares for energy plantations.
To achieve the 2030 net sink target from the forest and land use sector, the MoEF is targeting the development of 6 million hectares of new plantation forests. Combined, the total area of plantation forests in Indonesia will reach 11 million hectares.
Without mitigation to protect natural forests, FWI projects that 4.65 million hectares of natural forests will be destroyed due to the development of plantation forests, especially energy. “The energy transition through HTE has the potential to plunge Indonesia into ’emission debt’ due to biomass burning,” he concluded, referring to a 2023 Trend Asia research.
FWI data shows that on Bangka Island, two companies, PT Bangkanesia and PT Istana Kawi Kencana, have caused massive deforestation. From 2017 to 2021, 2,758 hectares of natural forest were lost in the concessions of these two companies.
“PT Bangkanesia’s license status has been revoked by the Ministry of Environment and Forestry (KLHK) in 2022, but there is no information regarding the continuation of this company’s business,” Anggi added.
In addition, Anggi explained that PT Istana Kawi Kencana is also facing licensing issues and is in danger of having its license revoked. In 2023, the Bangka Belitung DPRD recommended the revocation of the licenses of six industrial plantation forest management companies, including PT Istana Kawi Kencana, to KLHK.
“This recommendation is based on the findings of violations and environmental damage committed by these companies,” he explained.
The government’s plan to achieve the net zero emission target by 2030 through the development of energy plantations is considered too hasty and has the potential to damage forest resources and the environment.
“Without a policy review and corrective steps from the government, the energy transition effort is at great risk of bringing Indonesia to the brink of deforestation and failure to achieve the net zero emission target,” Anggi said. (Hartatik)
