PALMOILMAGAZINE, JAKARTA – Professor Herry Purnomo, Country Director of CIFOR-ICRAF Indonesia, emphasized that addressing deforestation within the palm oil sector could be facilitated through internet technology. Utilizing satellite monitoring systems can help identify areas where deforestation is occurring, thereby reducing emissions. Indonesia has the potential to minimize emissions on a national scale by leveraging technology.
By harnessing technology and accurate calculations, we can understand the emission levels in each region. For example, districts such as Pelalawan in Riau Province, Sintang in West Kalimantan Province, Pulang Pisau in Central Kalimantan, and Kutai Kartanegara in East Kalimantan Province have an average emission of 4 million tons. “This serves as the basis for designing emission reduction strategies at the local level,” he stated during the third national workshop on sustainable palm oil, attended by Palmoilmagazine.com in January 2024.
Professor Herry Purnomo further suggested conducting a thorough audit of plantation canopy dynamics to assess the areas impacted by deforestation. This analysis would encompass all areas connected to palm oil plantations, both those already cultivated and those that could potentially be avoided.
Also Read: UGM Professor Advocates Palm Oil-Cow Integrated Program for Sustainable Agriculture
That is why it needs integration to minimize deforestation in regional action plan -sustainable palm oil. “We could significantly create contribution in the plan. Escalating plantation productivity and getting legal certificate would be part of the strategies by having economic and legal approaches,” he said.
It also needs political and legal approaches to deliver guarantee sustainably to minimize deforestation. The good connection with regional governments and the local would confirm the success in implementing the strategies.
“Agro-forestry would be the effective solution by escalating smallholders’ income while reducing deforestation,” Prof. Herry Purnomo said. (T2)
