InfoSAWIT, JOGJAKARTA – President Prabowo Subianto's statement regarding the plan to expand palm oil plantations to boost palm oil exports has drawn sharp criticism. Many believe that this policy could trigger renewed deforestation and damage biodiversity.
Prof. Budi Setiadi Daryono, Dean of the Faculty of Biology at Gadjah Mada University and Chairman of the Indonesian Biology Consortium (KOBI), strongly opposes this plan. He stated that the policy poses a threat to biodiversity and exacerbates ecosystem damage.
“Many studies show that palm oil plantations cannot serve as wildlife habitats. In fact, nearly 0% of biodiversity can thrive in palm oil plantation areas,” Prof. Budi said in a press statement on Friday (January 10).
According to Prof. Budi, the monoculture of palm oil not only leads to biodiversity loss but also increases conflicts between humans and wildlife. He cited the declining populations of protected species such as orangutans, elephants, rhinos, and Sumatran tigers due to deforestation.
“Protected flora and fauna are increasingly endangered due to the establishment of palm oil plantations. This poses a serious threat to the biodiversity we have,” he emphasized.
Prof. Budi also reminded the government of the importance of consistency in implementing Presidential Instruction No. 5 of 2019 regarding the cessation of new permits in primary natural forests and peatlands. “Through this policy, 66.2 million hectares of natural forests and peatlands can be saved from destruction,” he said.
Additionally, he highlighted Presidential Instruction No. 1 of 2023 regarding the mainstreaming of biodiversity conservation in sustainable development. According to him, this policy should be a government priority to protect Indonesia's biodiversity potential.
President Prabowo's statement equating palm oil with forest plants is also considered misleading. Prof. Budi stressed that palm oil is not a forest plant, referring to the Minister of Environment and Forestry Regulation No. P.23/2021.
“We emphasize that palm oil is not included as a plant for forest and land rehabilitation. The President's statement could mislead the public,” he said.
In agreement with Prof. Budi, Prof. H adi Ali Kodra and Dr. Wiratno, members of the Indonesian Biodiversity Index Committee (IBI)-KOBI, urged the government to adhere to international commitments such as the Convention on Biological Diversity (UNCBD) and the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES).
They also pointed out that Indonesia is one of the world's megadiverse countries alongside Brazil and Congo. “Indonesia's biodiversity, including the Coral Triangle, is an important asset that must be protected, not destroyed through deforestation,” said Prof. Hadi.
Prof. Hadi added that forest conservation directly impacts the lives of millions of farming families living around conservation areas. “Around 27,000 villages surround 125 million hectares of state forest areas. If the forests are destroyed, their livelihoods are also at risk,” he concluded.
This criticism serves as a reminder for the government to consider environmental and social impacts in every policy, especially those related to palm oil plantations. (T2)