Indonesia is set to clear a forested area roughly the size of Belgium to make way for the large-scale production of sugarcane-based bioethanol and food crops like rice—a move that environmentalists warn could cause irreversible damage to ecosystems and Indigenous communities.
The plan, which could lead to the most significant planned deforestation project in the world, threatens to displace Indigenous groups who have long relied on these lands for their survival. Activists and NGOs argue that such a move prioritizes industrial farming at the cost of biodiversity, indigenous rights, and climate stability.
“Instead of clearing forests, the government should optimizing existing agricultural land, respecting indigenous rights, and implementing genuine agrarian reform,” said the Clean Coalition, a network of environmental NGOs.
Environmental groups fear that the proposed project — covering up to 20 million hectares — could also fuel the expansion of oil palm plantations, already one of the leading causes of deforestation in the region. “This plan significantly increases the risk of palm oil expansion,” warned Achmad Surambo, Executive Director of Sawit Watch.
Local communities report that they are already feeling the policy’s negative effects, with forest-dependent groups facing land seizures and growing uncertainty. Environmental watchdogs and Indigenous advocates argue that the government’s plan, reviving a long-standing “food estates” strategy, risks repeating past mistakes without delivering absolute food security.
Indonesia’s rainforests are among the most biodiverse in the world. They are home to endangered species like orangutans, Sumatran tigers, sun bears, Javan rhinoceroses, and rare giant forest flowers. Conservationists warn that clearing these forests would push many species closer to extinction.
While food security is a critical issue, experts say solutions must be sustainable, inclusive, and rooted in conservation — not destruction. As one of the world’s largest emitters of deforestation-linked emissions, Indonesia’s decision could have global consequences for climate and biodiversity. Read More
News Credit: EcoWatch
Picture Credit: Ulet Ifansasti / Getty Images