Greenpeace condemned the release of Minister of Forestry Regulation (Permenhut) which classify oil palm as part of forest plants. This could potentially increase the destruction of peatland forests and increase carbon emissions.

That policy is listed as Permenhut Number 62/Menhut/II/2011 on Forest Plantation Development Guidelines on Various Types of Business License Timber Utilization in Industrial Forest Plantation (IUPHHK / HTI) issued August 25, 2011 and promulgated on September 6, 2011.

"The Ministry of Forestry have lied and being inconsistent in its commitment to maintain Indonesia's remaining forests. Issuing this regulation (Permenhut) is a prove that the government has failed in enforcing the law relating to breach of the expansion of oil palm plantations in forest areas, "said Bustar Maitar, Greenpeace forest campaigner, on Monday (9/19/2011), in Jakarta.

According to him, with the inclusion of forest plantations in the category, it is feared will lead to the growing emissions from the destruction of forests and peatlands which are now very large. Moreover, it also justifies forest clearing for oil palm plantations. "This is clearly contrary to President SBY commitment for Indonesia to reduce emissions 41 percent by 2020," said Bustar.

Consumption of crude palm oil (crude palm oil / CPO) and the increasing use of palm oil for biofuels in the international market has resulted in widespread destruction of forests and peatlands in Indonesia. Step taken by Minister of Forestry by declaring the "new" classification of oil palm will exacerbate the destruction of Indonesia's remaining natural forest because it gives the opportunity for plantations to hide behind the banner of "forest category".

For your information, Indonesia is the country with the highest deforestation rate throughout the world, this has placed Indonesia as the third largest greenhouse gas emitter. Greenpeace analysis has identified there are about 5.4 million hectares of oil palm plantations that overlap with areas of forest and peat. On March 18, 2011 the government has also revoked the principal license that releasing forest area for oil palm plantations covering 182 companies throughout Indonesia due to allegation of illegal activities and has penetrated the forest area without a legitimate procedure.

"Minister Zulkifli Hasan Permenhut should immediately cancel this and start focusing on how to protect Indonesia's remaining forests, biodiversity, and communities dependent on forests. Continuing with business as usual means enormous destruction of forests will continue to occur and the minister will be responsible for Indonesia's failure to meet the commitment to reduce ghg emission that was made by the President" he said.

source: Kompas