InfoSAWIT, JAKARTA - In a vast landscape rich in biodiversity, Indonesia ranks third in the world for rainforest area and second in biodiversity. Over 65% of Indonesia's land area, approximately 125 million hectares, is designated as National Forest Areas, which include production forests, protected forests, and conservation forests managed by the Ministry of Forestry.
Saparis Soedarjanto, Secretary of the Directorate General of Sustainable Forest Management, emphasized that forest management requires a multidimensional approach. "Extraction and various utilization activities must be conducted with consideration for the landscape, conservation measures, and community welfare," he stated.
Historically, Indonesian communities have relied on forests for their livelihoods. In the 1970s, forest resources became a backbone of national development. Logging increased rapidly to support industrialization and infrastructure development. Over time, some logged areas were converted into industrial plantations and palm oil estates.
According to the Forestry Law No. 41 of 1999, forests are defined as ecosystems dominated by tree communities within a landscape. Both forests and palm oil plantations play crucial roles in maintaining biodiversity, supporting local and global economies, and providing various environmental services.
Palm oil plantations have become a major sector in Indonesia's economy over the past few decades. With a population growth rate of 1.25% per year between 2010 and 2020, the demand for land has increased, contributing to deforestation, loss of biodiversity, and environmental pollution.
Saparis stressed that the key to sustainability lies in integration. "Palm oil plantations must adopt a more holistic approach, integrating palm oil cultivation with natural ecosystems like forests," he explained. One solution is agroforestry systems, where palm oil is combined with other productive crops, and biodiversity conservation is achieved by building wildlife corridors to connect fragmented forests.
The Ministry of Forestry also views the integration of High Conservation Value Forests (HCVF) within palm oil plantations as a strategic step. "HCVF must be developed with an awareness that forests have ecological, social, and cultural values that need to be considered and protected," Saparis stated.
Integrating forests and palm oil requires careful planning, considering factors such as soil type, climate, and local biodiversity. Continuous monitoring and evaluation are also necessary to assess the effectiveness of these strategies and make necessary adjustments.
"By implementing biodiversity conservation practices and adopting sustainability strategies, we can reap economic benefits from palm oil while preserving the environment for future generations," Saparis emphasized. (T2)
More details can be found in the February 2025 edition of InfoSAWIT.
