Jakarta – The Indonesian government’s plan to allocate 20 million hectares of forest land for food and energy production has sparked significant concerns among environmental experts and indigenous rights advocates. A recent policy brief warns that the initiative could lead to deforestation, biodiversity loss, and increased carbon emissions while also threatening the livelihoods of local and indigenous communities.
University of Indonesia environmental anthropologist Dr Suraya Afiff, the lead author of the policy brief, said in a discussion on Tuesday, March 12, that the issue of ignoring land tenure has been going on for decades. “How was the 20 million hectares of forest obtained? It was all made in the context of the ministry’s map. I know exactly how the people who made this (map) thought. It is assumed that there are no kampongs, no villages.”
The policy, introduced by the Ministry of Forestry, identifies large land areas as available for conversion, yet many of these lands are traditionally managed by indigenous groups. Critics argue that the government’s assumption of “unlicensed” land as vacant ignores the long-standing presence of communities who rely on forests for food, medicine, and cultural identity.
Suraya further highlighted that 96.4% of production forests have been allocated to private companies over the last decade, fueling land conflicts as local communities are excluded from decision-making. “When concessions are issued, conflicts occur,” she said. “In the field, there are many arrests because the ministry’s map of 120 million hectares or 63% of Indonesia’s land area is considered empty space. This has been the case since 1967 and has not changed until now.”
Environmental and social risks
The large-scale transformation of forests into food estates could accelerate deforestation and carbon emissions, undermining Indonesia’s goal of achieving net-zero emissions by 2050. Conservation expert Prof. Jatna Supriatna stressed that biodiversity loss in palm oil plantations is already severe. “Biodiversity is greatly reduced in oil palm plantations. There is something called ’empty forest syndrome’,” he said.
Jatna also challenged assumptions about land availability, correcting Suraya’s earlier claim: “Currently, the forest area is only 96 million hectares or 51.2% of Indonesia’s land.” He warned, “the net present value of forests is greater than palm oil plantations”, emphasising that forests hold long-term economic value that exceeds short-term agricultural profits.
The lack of legal transparency surrounding these land allocations has also drawn criticism. Legal expert Prof. Sulistyowati Irianto argued that the process reflects “autocratic legalism”, where laws are made to justify power interests rather than uphold environmental justice. “What is needed now is ecological justice,” she said. “Law and policy reform must have an ecological justice perspective.”
Indigenous knowledge and food conservation
Beyond land conflicts, local food diversity is also at risk. Hayu Diah, a community food conservationist from the Mantasa Foundation, shared her experiences working with rural women in East Nusa Tenggara to document and preserve wild edible plants. “In one day, we collected 275 wild, edible plants,” she said. “The women said that’s not enough, there are many more kinds. Unfortunately, some plants can no longer be found or are extinct.”
However, Hayu also noted a growing disinterest among younger generations, saying, “Unfortunately, young people are not interested in knowing this.” The loss of traditional food knowledge, coupled with large-scale land conversions, could further erode local food security.
Recommendations for sustainable land use
To balance economic needs with environmental and social justice, experts urge the government to conduct thorough land assessments before approving large-scale conversions, ensuring that any development is based on accurate data rather than assumptions of vacant land. Instead of clearing forests, they recommend prioritising agricultural intensification on existing farmland to meet food and energy demands without exacerbating deforestation.
Protecting indigenous land rights and involving local communities in decision-making are crucial to preventing displacement and upholding social equity. Additionally, ensuring transparency and accountability in land allocation is essential to prevent corruption and land grabs, safeguarding both environmental sustainability and the rights of affected communities.
With deforestation accelerating and climate change intensifying, activists stress the need for policies harmonising economic growth with ecological and social sustainability. (nsh)
Banner photo: shutterstock
