Indonesia is undertaking one of the world’s most aggressive deforestation projects, planning to clear over 4.3 million hectares of tropical forest—an area larger than Belgium—for large-scale plantations of sugarcane, rice, and other crops intended for bioethanol fuel and food production. The project is centered in regions like Merauke in Papua and Central Kalimantan, both of which host rich biodiversity and Indigenous territories. The initiative is part of a national drive for food and energy self-sufficiency, but it has triggered alarm globally due to its environmental and human rights implications.
According to environmental experts and watchdog groups like Mighty Earth and Greenpeace, the deforestation could release more than 315 million tons of carbon dioxide, worsening the global climate crisis. It also threatens endangered species, including birds of paradise and tree kangaroos, while displacing Indigenous groups who were not adequately consulted. Although the Indonesian government has proposed reforesting 6.5 million hectares of degraded land, scientists argue that secondary growth cannot match the carbon-storing capacity and biodiversity of old-growth forests. The project also comes amid broader scrutiny of global biofuel strategies, with critics questioning whether they truly offer a greener alternative or simply shift emissions to the developing world. Despite mounting international pressure, key stakeholders have yet to implement strong safeguards for people or the planet. More