JAKARTA – History has shown that the first oil palm plantations in Indonesia were developed in Sumatra island. Currently, Sumatra still stands as the main center of oil palm plantations in Indonesia with a share of around 63 percent of the total area of ​​oil palm plantations in Indonesia. But apparently, a number of anti-palm oil  groups have misinterpreted such condition by accusing that the development of oil palm plantations  has eliminated the habitat and native flora and fauna of Sumatra.

Their accusation is contrary to the fact that the development of oil palm plantations in Sumatra Island is in line with the governance and regulations set by the Indonesian government, which has allocated the areas for palm plantation development outside forest areas. The ​​Sumatra Island has a total area of 47.2 million hectares, consisting of forest areas of 22.6 million hectares or 48 percent of its total land areas, while the rest is non-forest areas on the island (Table 4).

Meanwhile, the ​​oil palm plantations in Sumatra have a total area of 7.9 million hectares or only about 17 percent of the land area of ​​Sumatra Island. It means that the largest land use on Sumatra Island is for forest areas and not for oil palm plantations. Based on its national policy, the forest areas function like “home” for its native biodiversity.

The areas of biodiversity conservation in the forms of protected and conservation forests in Sumatra Island cover a total areas of ​​10.7 million hectares. Those areas are used for conservation both In Situ and Ex Situ which are spread throughout the province. One form of In Situ biodiversity conservation is realized in the National Park on Sumatra Island (Table 5).

Take North Sumatra Province, the location of the first palm plantation, as an example. Despite its long period of plantation development, the province can still maintain the “home function” of its rich biodiversity (Table 6a,b,c) as shown by: (a) National Parks in 3 locations covering an area of ​​1.26 million hectares; (b) Nature Reserves spread across 5 locations covering an area of ​​16.5 thousand hectares; and (c) wildlife sanctuaries spread across 4 locations covering an area of ​​83.6 thousand hectares.

It is likewise in Riau, which is the largest palm oil producing province in Indonesia. It still maintains its “home” of biodiversity (Table 7a,b,c), consisting of: (a) National Parks spread across 2 locations covering an area of ​​243.1 thousand hectares; (b) Nature Reserves spread across 3 locations covering an area of ​​20.7 thousand hectares; (c) Wildlife Reserves.

The above description shows that the development of oil palm plantations on Sumatra Island only uses about 17 percent of the total land area of ​​Sumatra Island, while maintaining forest areas at 48 percent of the total land area of ​​Sumatra Island. As a matter of fact, Sumatra still provides space for the preservation of biodiversity both in situ and ex situ as well as in other forms of natural resource conservation. (Mitos 6-34)

References:

• The ministry of environment and forestry (KLHK) (2021)
• The ministry of agriculture (2021)
• Suharto R, Agus F, Santosa Y, Sipayung T, Gunarso, P. 2019. Assessment on European Union Renewable Energy Directive (EU Directive 2018/2001) and EU Commission Delegated Regulation 2019/807, and formulation of Indonesian position to the policy.
• Jakarta (ID): The economic coordinating ministry; The Oil Palm Plantation Fund Management Board (BPDPKS); PT Riset Perkebunan Nusantara. (*)