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Open Letter from Kaoem Telapak: 100 Days of Prabowo's Performance



Foto by Fitra Yogi/Sawit Fest 2021
Open Letter from Kaoem Telapak: 100 Days of Prabowo's Performance

InfoSAWIT, JAKARTA - In his latest speech at the National Development Planning Consultation (Musrenbangnas), President Prabowo Subianto emphasized the crucial role of palm oil in Indonesia's economy and its global relevance across various industries, including chocolate, detergents, and cosmetics. This speech, marking the first 100 days of his administration alongside Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka, highlighted strategic policy directions, particularly concerning environmental sustainability and natural resource governance.

Abu Meridian, Campaign Leader of Kaoem Telapak, a civil society organization focused on environmental preservation and improving forest sector governance, pointed out that this moment is significant for government policy. In an official statement received by InfoSAWIT on January 27, 2025, he also stressed the need for data-driven input to support sustainable industrial practices amid increasing environmental challenges.

Recent studies have revealed several important findings related to palm oil policies and their environmental impacts. First, Deforestation and Environmental Crisis: Primary forests and peatlands have a much greater capacity to absorb carbon compared to palm oil plantations. The conversion of forests into palm oil plantations significantly contributes to greenhouse gas emissions, reaching up to 200 million metric tons per year. Data from The TreeMap in 2023 indicates a 36% increase in forest conversion, amounting to 30,000 hectares.

Second, Environmental Capacity Approaching Limits: Regions such as Sumatra, Kalimantan, and Papua show that the area of palm oil plantations has exceeded the ecosystem's carrying capacity, threatening ecological balance.

Third, Chronic Agrarian Conflicts: Over 1,100 conflict cases have occurred in palm oil plantation areas, mostly triggered by land acquisition without community consent, violations of plasma schemes, and improper licensing.

Fourth, Direct Impact on Biodiversity: The expansion of palm oil plantations, especially in lowland forests, poses a significant threat to Indonesia's biodiversity, which is among the richest in the world.

Fifth, Low Palm Oil Productivity: The national average productivity stands at 3.6 tons of CPO per hectare, far below the optimal potential of 6-8 tons. With the implementation of replanting technology and good agricultural practices, productivity can be increased without the need to open new land.

Lastly, Positive Effects of the Moratorium: Compared to a scenario without a moratorium, the potential economic loss reaches IDR 30.4 trillion. This program is also projected to create up to 827,000 jobs in the long term.

 

Strategic Recommendations

Based on in-depth analysis, the strategic recommendations proposed include: First, Increasing Productivity Without Land Expansion: Focus on rejuvenating plantations and implementing good agricultural practices to maximize yields without opening new land. Second, Strengthening Moratorium Policies: The government needs to issue a Presidential Regulation that reinforces the palm oil moratorium, including halting new permits and strengthening governance based on sustainability principles.

Third, Law Enforcement and Conflict Resolution: Strict sanctions should be imposed on palm oil companies that violate regulations, especially concerning forest areas and indigenous rights. Fourth, Product Diversification and Palm Oil Downstreaming: Policies should be directed towards developing downstream products such as bioenergy and oleochemicals to enhance added value and competitiveness in the global market.

President Subianto's speech reaffirmed that palm oil is a strategic national asset. With strategic steps based on sustainability principles, Indonesia can not only strengthen its domestic palm oil sector but also demonstrate its commitment to global sustainability. (T2)


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