InfoSAWIT, JAKARTA – Indonesian Palm Oil Association (IPOA) was not satisfied about the latest article that Reuters published through Context - platform. The article written by Adi Renaldi, a correspondent in Southeast Asia for Thomson Reuters Foundation, was taken to deliver unfair opinion and would potentially damage palm oil industries’ images in Indonesia. The article discussed about environmental, climate changes, and forest cut issues that related to palm oil industries but were bias and did not reflect the field realities.
In the article with the title “Bagaimana industri kelapa sawit Indonesia memicu krisis iklim?”, Renaldi discussed about the impacts of palm oil plantation expansion to rain forests in Indonesia, and the contribution to carbon emission globally. He quoted data from Global Forest Watch and Nusantara Atlas that claimed that Sumatera and Kalimantan Islands lost most their tropical forests because of palm oil plantation expansion. Besides, the article did connect biodiesel production in palm oil – base to the increasing carbon emission that said, biofuel in palm oil – base would be more dangerous that it in fossil – base.
In the response to the article, Chairman in Palm Oil Positive Campaign IPOA, Edi Suhardi denied the claim by Reuters. Edi thought, the article showed the lacks of understanding about forestry laws in Indonesia. “The new palm oil cultivation would be only developed in other use area, such as, out of forest areas that the government regulated. It means, palm oil plantation development should not be categorized as deforestation,” Edi emphasized, as InfoSAWIT quoted from CSPO Watch, Monday (23/9/2024).
IPOA also said that palm oil would be very significant for the economy of Indonesia, namely to provide employment and support the economic progress in the rural. He said, 41 percent of palm oil plantations in Indonesia belonged to the smallholders that lived around the plantations. “Palm oil industries provide employment for about 17 million men, starting from the agricultural sectors to the process and administration. But Reuters seemed ignored the fact,” he said.
IPOA also emphasized that palm oil significantly played its roles to minimize the dependence to fossil fuel by using biofuel (in palm oil – base). Indonesia, as the biggest palm oil producer in the world is committed to increase biodiesel in palm oil – base to minimize carbon emission.
IPOA was sorry for the article that was not balance and not based on the facts that were verified. “Reuters did not verify about their claims in the articles. This is one sample of black campaign to palm oil industries in Indonesia that foreign media always ignore,” Edi said.
In his thought, palm oil industries in Indonesia would do the best to qualify the sustainability standards and contribute to realize sustainable development goals, maintain the environmental balance while fulfilling the people’s economic needs. (T2)
