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Issues: `Palm oil plantations are not forests'

Thu, 02/25/2010 12:08 PM  |  Readers Forum

Just when I thought the Indonesian government could no longer shock me in its attitude toward its forests (the country's lifeblood) or in its contempt for its wildlife (quickly vanishing into oblivion) it goes ahead. The very idea (no matter how theoretical) of reclassifying palm oil plantations as "forest" is ludicrous, I would have assumed it was a joke if I hadn't seen the Forestry Ministry endorsing it in black and white ("palm oil estate is forest, says ministry", the Post, Feb. 16, 2010).
This isn't so that even more foreign aid can be pumped into an already bloated and corrupt system, is it? Let me make it clear: Forests are ancient, natural, thriving and diverse ecosystems that contain multiple life forms, all cohabiting in synchronicity with each other.
Palm oil plantations are barren, desolate monocultures, man-made specifically to profit the multinational palm oil companies. Nothing could be more unlike a rainforest as virtually nothing can survive there. (By Jeanie Elford, London)
Your comments:
Let's look at it from the Malaysian and Indonesian ministers' perspective. It's called an oil palm tree and it has green leaves. A lot of these trees planted in one area means forest. To think beyond that would be too taxing on their brain cells. Simplicity has an attraction.
Faddy
Malaysia
If this becomes a reality, our organization might as well just close up shop. There will be no hope for the orangutan in Indonesia.
Michelle Desilets
Oxford
Indonesia should realize palm oil plantations will not bring tourists to their country. The beautiful rainforests and its inhabitants will!
Layla Roberts
Australia
Climate change is said to be exacerbated by the burning of tropical forest to provide so-called eco-friendly biofuels (which incidentally are taking the place of food crops, causing food prices to rise drastically in poor countries).
So, rich countries will attempt to pay developing and corrupt countries such as Indonesia to keep their forests.
But, they can classify a palm oil plantation as a forest! So, more forest will be cut down to plant palm oil and the rich countries will pay them to do it. This is so sad, ridiculous and outrageous.
Patrick Himmel
Jakarta
The statement "...With the decree, the Forestry Ministry is aping several countries such as Malaysia." is totally erroneous.
Malaysia never classified palm oil, rubber or cocoa plantations or any other agricultural plantations as forests.
There were attempts by some quarters putting signs beside palm oil and rubber plantations, especially on the main highways, with statements such as "you are passing through a palm oil/rubber plantation - we green the earth", but the practice ceased many years ago.
The environmental NGOs in Malaysia, similar to Walhi or Forest Watch Indonesia, would fight attempts to classify agricultural plantations as natural forests in our country.
Maketab Mohamed
Johor Bahru, Malaysia
The government's plan is shameful and hypocritical. Who do they think they are kidding? It's just another corrupt little ploy. If it wasn't so sad it would be funny!
Nancy
Jakarta
It is absolutely ridiculous to call an oil palm plantation a forest. One type of tree planted is nothing but a crop. REDD is a seriously flawed, dangerous joke.
No one is fooled by this racket. And the fact that oil palms can be planted on peatland shows how much of a farce Indonesia's Forestry Ministry is - only concerned with money at the total expense of the environment.
Patrick H.
Jakarta