PALMOILMAGAZINE, JAKARTA – The Ministry of Environment and Forestry (MEF) recently disclosed that palm oil plantations covering 3.7 million hectares are situated in forest regions. This information stems from a series of events aimed at resolving discrepancies in palm oil plantation data across Indonesia.
As reported by Palmoilmagazine.com, the MEF General Secretary explained that the chronological sequence commenced with the reconciliation of national-scale palm oil plantation data initiated by the Coordinator Ministry in Economy.
“The process involved utilizing high-resolution satellite images, which were subsequently cross-verified with field data,” stated MEF during their presentation at the Pertemuan Nasional (Penas) Petani Sawit Indonesia in late 2023.
The persons involved in the process signed Berita Acara Data Sawit Nasional, such as, Ministry of Agriculture, MEF, National Land Agency, Geospatial Information Agency, and Coordinator Ministry in Economy. It was sentenced that palm oil plantation nationally laid about on 16,38 million hectares through the Decision Number 833/KPTS/SR.020/M/12/2019 on 17 December 2019. Ministry of Agriculture would be the Walidata.
Then MEF used the data and did overlay with the last data of forest regions. As the result, 3,37 million hectares are in forest regions. The sentence of MEF reflected the commitment of the government to maintain the balance between agriculture and environmental conservation that significantly have ecologic functions.
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The different data of palm oil plantations in Indonesia would be the main focus of reconciliation data that Ministry of Economy conducted. The method that combined high resolution satellite image and field verification should deliver more accurate data and be responsible. The initiative also reflected what the government would do to escalate transparency and accountability in natural resource management particularly in palm oil plantation sectors that would deliver big impacts for the environment.
MEF noted, the decision that 3,7 million hectares palm oil plantations in forest regions, would be the concrete thing to maintain the balance between agricultural needs and environment. The process should involve collaboration among the related ministries and institutions, to show good coordination to solve every different data. (T2)
