InfoSAWIT, SINGAPORE – Palm oil industries play the strategic roles in Indonesia’s economy, become the backbone of revenue, and significantly encourage economic progress in many villages. But palm oil existence has something to do with environmental challenges which demand sustainability actions.
As InfoSAWIT quoted from Palm Oil Analytic, palm oil sector in Indonesia significantly contributes to the economy, as the biggest export commodity, reinforces trade balance with the income about US$ 20 billion per year in average. The demands in the globe emphasized that Indonesia plays the main role in palm oil trade in the world.
Palm oil industries also provide employment for millions of Indonesian people, including the smallholders and plantation labors. Besides, by developing infrastructures in villages, such as, ways and schools, these industries encourage the progress and minimize poverty in the villages.
But there are urgent issues about environment, such as, deforestation to get palm oil new planting. This caused the habitat loss for endemic species, such as, orangutan, tiger, and elephant. Natural diversity conservation should be urgent to maintain the ecosystem remain balanced.
“Land conservation to be monocultural plantation would threaten natural diversity and stable ecosystem. This influences not only flora and fauna locally but also ecosystem sustainability in a whole,” Palm Oil Analytic noted.
Meanwhile, peat conservation to be palm oil plantations would significantly make green-house gas emission, climate change worse globally.
To avoid the bad impacts for the environment, Indonesia has conducted some things heading to sustainable cultivation practices.
Certification program, such as, Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) would be the significant thing to responsibly, socially, and environmentally promote sustainable palm oil production. The producer countries that got the certificate should obey particular standards that protect environment and local people.
The Government of Indonesia implements the regulation and policy to control deforestation and encourage sustainable practices in palm oil industries, including many advance industries are committed to use sustainable palm oil through their supply chain by prioritizing social and environmental principles.
Palm oil industries play significant roles in Indonesia’s economy but to confirm a long term – sustainability, concrete things and commitment from every party are needed to maintain the balance between economic progress and environmental conservation. (T2)
