JAKARTA – Forestry Minister Raja Juli Antoni has denied the allegation that the land area conversion of 20 million hectares for foods, energy, and water reserve as deforestation.

According to the minister, the land conversion is part of the government’s efforts to realize Indonesia’s self-sufficiency in foods and energy sources, while maintaining the sustainability and preservation of forests.

The Ministry of Forestry has identified around 20 million hectares of forested land, which according to Indonesian prevailing regulation are not protected forests but convertible ones that can be used to produce foods, energy, and to function as water reserve area.

“It is not deforestation, but rather to protect the forest, which simultaneously ensures self-sufficiency in foods and energy,” said Raja Juli in an official statement as quoted by Antara, Wednesday, January 8, 2025.

He cited the example of land areas that could be planted with dryland rice to support and realize food self-sufficiency.

“For example, dryland rice, 1.1 million hectares of land has the potential to be planted with dryland rice. If you plant 1 million, it can produce up to 3.5 million tons of rice per year,” said the forestry minister.

Meanwhile, Presidential Chief of Staff AM Putranto said that he agreed with the steps taken by the Ministry of Forestry. “But the forestry ministry needs to ensure an environmental impact analysis (Amdal) of the land areas used for the production of food and energy. It’s particularly necessary as the conversion policy will draw the attention of the international community,” he said.

“So, we need to make sure that the land conversion is accompanied by Amdal in order to convince the international community that we do it based on the sustainability principles. The world is certainly watching the implementation of the conversion policy,” said AM Putranto.

Separately, Forest Watch Indonesia (FWI) Campaign and Advocacy Manager Anggi Prayoga claimed that the 20 million hectares areas are forests that should be protected, which was denied by the forestry minister. He said that clearing up forest areas for monoculture crops is not the right solution for Indonesia’s food, energy and water security. “For example, developing oil palm plantations in forest areas will accelerate the carbon emissions.

“It will take 44 to 104 years to restore the emissions lost from changing forests to monoculture crops,” said Anggi. (*)

Sawitku.id. Menhut Raja Juli Sebut Konversi 20 Juta Hektar Lahan Hutan Bukan Deforestasi. sawitku.id/nasional/81414300805/menhut-raja-juli-sebut-konversi-20-juta-hektar-lahan-hutan-bukan-deforestasi. 8 Januari 2025