
Indonesia food plan risks ‘world's largest' deforestation
JAKARTA, April 23 — An Indonesian soldier gives a thumbs up as he crosses a rice field on a combine harvester in remote Papua, where a government food security mega-project has raised fears of mass deforestation.
Keen to end its reliance on rice imports, Indonesia wants to plant vast tracts of the crop, along with sugar cane for biofuel, in the restive eastern region.
But environmentalists warn it could become the world's largest deforestation project, threatening endangered species and Jakarta's climate commitments.
And activists fear the scheme will fuel rights violations in a region long plagued by alleged military abuses as a separatist insurgency rumbles on.
The project's true scale is hard to ascertain; even government statements vary.
At a minimum, however, it aims to plant several million hectares of rice and sugar cane across South Papua province's Merauke. One million hectares is around the size of Lebanon.
Deforestation linked to the plan is already under way.
By late last year, more than 11,000 hectares had been cleared—an area larger than Paris—according to Franky Samperante of environmental and Indigenous rights NGO Yayasan Pusaka Bentala Rakyat.
That figure has only increased, according to analysis by campaign group Mighty Earth and conservation start-up The TreeMap.
Their work shows areas cleared include primary and secondary natural dryland and swamp forest, as well as secondary mangrove forest, savanna and bush.
'Usually, deforestation is a product of government not doing its job,' said Mighty Earth chief executive Glenn Hurowitz.
'But in this case, it's actually the state saying we want to clear some of our last remaining forests, carbon-rich peatlands, habitat for rare animals,' he told AFP.
Indonesia's government says the land targeted is degraded, already cultivated or in need of 'optimisation', dismissing some areas as little more than swamps.
'Tragedy'
Environmentalists argue that misunderstands the local ecosystem.
'In South Papua, the landscape and the ecosystem is lowland forest,' said Samperante.
'There are often misconceptions or even belittling' of these ecosystems, he added.
Mapping done by Mighty Earth shows the project threatens a broader ecosystem range—including peatlands and forests the group says should be protected by a government moratorium on clearing.
'The tragedy in this project,' said Hurowitz, 'is that Indonesia has made so much progress in breaking the link between agricultural expansion and deforestation.'
'Unfortunately, this single project threatens to undermine all progress.'
Indonesia has some of the world's highest deforestation rates and Papua retains some of the largest remaining untouched tracts.
Indonesian think-tank CELIOS says cutting down so much forest could derail Jakarta's plan to reach net-zero by 2050.
For President Prabowo Subianto's government, criticism of the project ignores Indonesia's agricultural and economic realities.
He has made the scheme a priority, visiting soon after taking office.
In January, he said the country was on track to end rice imports by late 2025, and reiterated its energy independence needs.
The agriculture ministry did not respond to AFP's request for comment.
In Papua, planting is in full swing. In the region's Kaliki district, AFP saw farmers supported by soldiers tending rice paddies in recently-cleared land.
'This location used to be like the one on the right here. Non-productive and neglected land,' said Ahmad Rizal Ramdhani, a soldier serving as the agriculture ministry's food resilience taskforce chief, at an event lauding the project.
That characterisation is disputed by Mighty Earth's satellite analysis, which found that at least two areas in the region cleared for rice overlap with government-designated peatland.
Indonesia's military is heavily involved in the project.
Local farmer Yohanis Yandi Gebze told AFP soldiers gave him 'tools, agricultural equipment and machinery' for rice cultivation.
Speaking not far from Ramdhani's event, he praised the military.
'I see them cooperating with the people very well,' he said.
'Cannot refuse'
Others say that is only part of the story.
Indonesia officially seized Papua, a former Dutch colony, in a widely criticised but UN-backed vote in 1969.
It has since been accused of abuses in a decades-long separatist conflict in the region.
'The community feels intimidated,' said Dewanto Talubun, executive director at Merauke-based environmental and rights group Perkumpulan Harmoni Alam Papuana.
'Not all members of the community agree with this project, and they cannot directly refuse,' he told AFP.
Samperante too reported local fears.
'Almost every day a human rights violation occurs,' he said.
The defence ministry told AFP the military had the resources and 'high discipline' to accelerate the food project while securing 'stability and security' in the region.
However, there are significant doubts about the project's viability.
'Soils in Merauke are likely too acidic and the climate too extreme... to grow rice,' said David Gaveau, founder of The TreeMap.
He warned that draining Merauke's wetlands for agriculture risks turning the area 'into a tinder box'—a fate seen elsewhere in Indonesia.
Critics do not dispute Jakarta's food security needs, but said crops should be grown elsewhere on abandoned agricultural land.
'It should be done in places that are capable of absorbing it,' said Hurowitz.
'Without destroying Indonesia's gorgeous, beautiful natural heritage and community lands.' — AFP
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Malaysia Sun
8 hours ago
- Malaysia Sun
Interview: ASEAN eyes role as 4th largest economy through deeper regional integration, partnerships
JAKARTA, June 11 (Xinhua) -- As the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) advances its economic integration efforts, Indonesian economist Syafruddin Karimi of Andalas University said the region's ambition to become the world's fourth-largest economy is within reach. "ASEAN is currently entering a pivotal phase in its economic integration project," said Syafruddin in a recent interview with Xinhua. "With the spirit of the Kuala Lumpur Declaration adopted at the 46th ASEAN Summit, the region has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening intra-regional cooperation and accelerating progress toward comprehensive economic integration." He emphasized that ASEAN has made "significant progress in recent years, particularly in the harmonization of trade standards, the acceleration of physical and digital connectivity, and advancements within free trade frameworks such as the ASEAN Free Trade Area and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership." "Efforts to promote labor mobility and regional supply chain integration continue, although they still face structural obstacles," he noted. According to him, ASEAN's goal to become the world's fourth-largest economy is theoretically attainable due to its demographic projections, strategic geographic positioning, and the vast potential of domestic markets. However, realizing this ambition will depend heavily on consistent structural reforms, political stability, and the collective capacity of member states to create a policy ecosystem that supports investment and innovation. "Achieving this goal will require stronger policy synergy, efforts to bridge gaps among member states, and a long-term vision that is both consistent and adaptable to global dynamics," he said. Looking ahead, Syafruddin believed ASEAN has the potential to become a stabilizing force in global affairs. "The region could advocate for a more equitable multilateral trading system and push for more inclusive global governance," he said. "This vision can only be realized if ASEAN maintains internal cohesion, deepens substantive economic integration, and crafts a consistent external strategy," he noted.


The Star
9 hours ago
- The Star
Indonesia nears trade deals with EU, Eurasian bloc
JAKARTA: (Bernama) Indonesia is close to finalising trade deals with the European Union (EU) and the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) by year-end to expand market access and attract foreign investment, officials said. The two agreements are the Indonesia-EU Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) and the Indonesia-EAEU Free Trade Agreement (FTA). Trade Minister Budi Santoso said the agreements are crucial amid global trade uncertainty, with the potential to diversify Indonesia's export markets and provide alternatives for products impacted by the United States tariff policies. "Negotiations are progressing rapidly, and we are targeting completion this year. We will ensure the benefits can be felt by businesses and the public at large,' he said in a statement. The deals aim to lower tariff and non-tariff barriers on key Indonesian exports such as palm oil, agricultural products, textiles, and electronics, while also covering investment, sustainability, and support for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Talks with the EU began in 2016, while negotiations with the EAEU, comprising Russia, Kazakhstan, Belarus, Armenia and Kyrgyzstan, were launched in 2022. According to the Ministry of Trade, Indonesia's total trade with the EU reached US$30.1 billion in 2024, with a US$4.5 billion surplus, and trade with the EAEU stood at US$4.1 billion, with a US$1.1 billion deficit. The ministry said the agreements are expected to diversify export markets and reinforce Indonesia's position as a key economic player in Southeast Asia. "These deals are not only about increasing trade, but also about boosting competitiveness, creating jobs, and supporting industrial growth,' said International Trade Negotiations director-general Djatmiko Bris Witjaksono. The Indonesian government is promoting the deals through its BISA Export Programme, which supports local micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in accessing global markets through business matching, training, and partnerships. - Bernama


The Star
11 hours ago
- The Star
Asean nations brace for Trump tariffs with bold stimulus packages
- Illustrative photo: The Nation/ANN BANGKOK: Southeast Asian nations are rolling out ambitious economic stimulus measures as they prepare for the potentially far-reaching impact of President Donald Trump's trade protectionism. Countries including Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, and Vietnam are initiating substantial spending programmes, aiming to safeguard consumer purchasing power and spur growth, even as they acknowledge the associated risks of escalating national debt and potential cuts to government revenue. According to Nikkei Asia, countries across the region are swiftly implementing what are being termed "large-scale economic stimulus measures" to counter the widespread effects of Trump's proposed tariff hikes. In Indonesia, President Prabowo Subianto's government has unveiled a colossal 24.44 trillion Rupiah (approximately US$1.30 billion) stimulus package. This marks a significant pivot from earlier plans this year to slash 306 trillion Rupiah from the budget, initially earmarked for a free school lunch programme. As part of the new initiative, around 18 million predominantly low-income citizens are set to receive 300,000 Rupiah in cash aid in June and July, alongside a monthly allocation of 10 kilograms of rice. The government is also planning substantial reductions in public transport fares, including a 30% cut for train tickets. Indonesian Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati stated that these measures are designed to preserve citizens' purchasing power and promote economic expansion. Indonesia has recently grappled with the effects of fiscal austerity, with its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growing by a mere 4.87% year-on-year in the first quarter – its weakest performance since Q3 2021 – attributed to declining middle-class consumption. The capital, Jakarta, has also seen hotel occupancy rates plummet by over 90% from pre-pandemic levels, while infrastructure spending has been significantly curtailed, leading to delays in highway construction projects. Elsewhere in the region, Singapore has revised down its GDP growth forecast for the current year to between 0% and 2%, a decrease from its earlier projection of 1% to 3%. Thailand has similarly adjusted its GDP estimates downwards, now projecting growth between 1.3% and 2.3%, a drop from its previous forecast of 2.3% to 3.3%. Last month, the Thai cabinet approved a 157 billion baht (approximately US$4.19 billion) budget to boost tourism and fund infrastructure projects like railways and roads. To secure funding for this package, the government has taken the decision to partially postpone its controversial 10,000 baht digital money handout scheme. Economists in Thailand are wary, as the nation's household debt approaches 90% of GDP, fearing that further stimulus could exacerbate debt levels and restrict the government's policy flexibility. In Malaysia, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim announced a RM1.5 billion (approximately US$317.5 million) support package in May, aimed at assisting small and medium-sized enterprises through low-interest loans and government-backed credit guarantees. Meanwhile, Vietnam is considering extending its Value Added Tax (VAT) reduction for an additional 18 months beyond its scheduled June expiry. However, concerns have been raised that prolonging the tax cut could negatively impact state revenue. - The Nation/ANN