Politics · Indonesia · 6 hrs ago
Indonesia says forest expansion for rice is no longer needed
Indonesia says it has reached rice self-sufficiency three years ahead of schedule and no longer needs 2 million hectares of forest for rice production.
Officials say future food and biofuel production should use degraded land instead.
The announcement could mark a shift away from plans for large plantations in Papua and Kalimantan.
But the Ministry of Forestry recently identified about 5.67 million hectares of forest that could be considered for permits, including for food and energy projects.
The ministry has not said that existing projects will stop or when they might stop.
Environmental groups say the government needs to change policies and funding that allow forest conversion for its new commitment to have an effect.
The government has not yet explained how its announcement will change projects already underway.
Indonesia says it no longer needs to expand rice cultivation into forest areas after achieving rice self-sufficiency three years ahead of schedule.
Hashim Djojohadikusumo said the country no longer needed the previously announced 2 million hectares for food production.
Mari Pangestu said future food and biofuel production would instead be directed toward degraded land.
The government has not clarified how the announcement affects food and energy projects already underway in Papua and Kalimantan.
Environmental groups say the shift must be reflected in policy changes and government spending.
- Who
- The Indonesian government, represented by presidential special envoy Hashim Djojohadikusumo, made the announcement.
- What
- Indonesia says it no longer needs forest areas for rice expansion and will direct future food and biofuel production toward degraded land.
- When
- Hashim made the announcement on Oct. 6; the year is not stated.
- Where
- The announcement was made in Jakarta and concerns projects in South Papua and Central Kalimantan.
- Why
- Hashim said Indonesia had achieved rice self-sufficiency three years ahead of schedule.
Indonesian government
Environmental groups
Effect on projects underway
Indonesian government
The forestry ministry said activities already underway would not necessarily stop, and it could not confirm when they might stop.
Environmental groups
Environmental groups say the announcement must be implemented through changes to policies that have facilitated forest conversion.
Government direction
Indonesian government
The forestry ministry welcomed the direction of Hashim’s announcement.
Environmental groups
Walhi campaigner Musdalifah Jamal said official statements were inconsistent and showed the government had not abandoned using forests for food and energy needs.
The government sees no further need for expanding rice cultivation areas in the so-called forest areas and forest zones that were announced a few years ago
Therefore, we cannot yet say that all activities in the two regions will automatically stop, nor confirm when they will stop
In order for these positive statements to have impact, they have to be implemented, including by changes in decrees and other policies.
Climate commitments are ultimately not measured by how many statements are made, but by whether policies and state money move in the same direction
The Ministry of Forestry designated about 5.67 million hectares of forest as areas that could be proposed for forest-utilization permits.
Hashim Djojohadikusumo said Indonesia had achieved rice self-sufficiency three years ahead of schedule and no longer needed the previously announced 2 million hectares for food production.
- Rice self-sufficiency
- Achieved three years ahead of schedule
- Previously announced area
- 2 million hectares
- Forest area in 2026 PAPH map
- About 5.67 million hectares
- Regions with projects underway
- South Papua and Central Kalimantan
Sources
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