InfoSAWIT, JAKARTA – President Prabowo Subianto's statement regarding the opening of palm oil plantations, which he claimed does not cause deforestation due to the presence of leaves, has sparked widespread criticism. This statement is considered to lack scientific basis, knowledge, and adequate research. Official government data shows otherwise.
The Ministry of Environment and Forestry (KLHK) in its 2022 release emphasized that oil palm is not a forest plant. KLHK also detailed various negative impacts of expansive, monoculture palm oil plantations that do not comply with procedures in forest areas, including legal, ecological, hydrological, and social issues.
"President Prabowo's statement is not supported by data and facts published by the government itself," said Uli Arta Siagian, Manager of Forest and Plantation Campaign at WALHI, in an official statement quoted by InfoSAWIT on Friday, January 3, 2025.
According to KLHK data, there are approximately 3.2 million hectares of illegal palm oil within forest areas. This figure indicates the large scale of deforestation that has occurred due to palm oil expansion.
Furthermore, Uli highlighted the subsequent impacts of large-scale palm oil expansion, including pollution, river damage, water crises, floods, landslides, and forest fires. "These losses are borne by the people and the environment," he stressed.
Prabowo's statement, which called on police and military personnel to protect palm oil plantations, also drew condemnation. This statement is seen as risky, legitimizing a security approach to resolving agrarian conflicts.
"Historically, security forces tend to side with companies involved in agrarian conflicts with communities. Intimidation, violence, and criminalization against communities are not uncommon," Uli said. He added that such instructions could exacerbate agrarian conflict situations and increase cases of violence against communities.
The expansion of large-scale palm oil plantations is expected to worsen agrarian conflicts, environmental damage, ecological disasters, and corruption in the palm oil sector. Activists and environmental organizations urge the government to prioritize data-driven and factual approaches while ensuring policies focused on sustainability and community protection.
"Statements like this should be based on research and scientific facts, not mere opinions that could mislead the public," Uli concluded. (T2)
