Jakarta—The Indonesian government’s proposal to convert 20 million hectares of forest—almost double the size of Java—into land for energy and food crops is being widely condemned. Environmental experts and civil society groups have labelled the plan economically and environmentally destructive, warning it could exacerbate the climate crisis, harm biodiversity, and displace Indigenous communities.
The Clean Transition Coalition, a coalition of civil society organisations concerned with climate-just development, argue that the ambitious plan to achieve food and energy self-sufficiency contradicts its objectives. In a statement on Monday, January 20, they said that deforestation on this scale would accelerate climate change instead of bolstering resilience, which has already undermined global agricultural productivity.
Greenpeace Indonesia’s Forest Campaigner Refki Saputra noted, “The government’s push for food self-sufficiency by focusing on a single commodity will only repeat the mistakes of the past. This plan will worsen the climate crisis. Climate change has already slowed global agricultural production by 21%. As a warmer region, Indonesia is experiencing even more severe impacts, with productivity dropping by 30-33%”.
A threat to biodiversity and climate
The environmental stakes are significant. Converting forests into plantations would release an estimated 4.9 billion tons of carbon emissions, further aggravating global warming. It would also endanger Indonesia’s rich biodiversity, including critically endangered species like orangutans. With fewer than 120,000 orangutans left in the wild, deforestation poses a grave threat to their survival.
Andi Muttaqin, Executive Director of Satya Bumi, highlighted the risks posed by expanding biofuel plantations such as palm oil. “Satya Bumi’s research shows the limit for Indonesia’s palm oil plantations is 18.15 million hectares, yet existing plantations already cover 17.77 million hectares. Expanding 20 million hectares of land could double the current area, exceeding environmental capacity and causing severe degradation, threatening human survival and biodiversity,” he said.
Impacts on Indigenous communities and ecosystems
The plan also risks displacing indigenous communities who rely on forests for their livelihoods and cultural identity. Historical policies have left communities marginalised and displaced, sparking widespread social and economic challenges.
Large-scale forest clearing also raises the risk of catastrophic fires. For instance, the 2015 forest and land fires caused IDR 220 trillion in damages to endangered biodiversity. They triggered severe health issues for over 500,000 people, according to Iola Abas, National Coordinator of Pantau Gambut.
Despite government assurances that the initiative will not result in deforestation, evidence suggests otherwise. Amalya Reza Oktaviani, Trend Asia’s Bioenergy Campaign Manager, dismissed such claims as “misleading.” Research from Trend Asia indicates that producing 10 million tons of wood pellets for domestic biomass use would necessitate deforestation of up to 1 million hectares.
The biomass push, including the co-firing program at coal power plants, would require an additional 2.3 million hectares of energy plantations, compounding environmental pressures.
Call for sustainable alternatives
Civil society organisations are urging the government to abandon plans for forest conversion and adopt sustainable strategies. These include optimising existing agricultural land, respecting indigenous rights, and implementing genuine agrarian reform. Supporting small-scale farmers and adopting sustainable practices are vital to achieving food and energy sovereignty without compromising environmental health.
Franky Samperante, Director of Yayasan Pusaka, emphasised, “The government should prioritise carrying out agrarian reform, addressing land ownership justice, resolving conflicts, and recognising, protecting, and restoring the rights of indigenous and local communities”.
The proposed forest conversion plan has sparked a crucial debate about Indonesia’s development priorities. Environmentalists warn that exploiting natural resources at the expense of ecological balance and human rights is not sustainable. Instead, they advocate for policies that align economic goals with environmental preservation and social equity, ensuring a resilient future for both people and the planet. (nsh)
