PALMOILMAGAZINE, BOGOR – Claims that oil palm is a water-intensive crop and a primary cause of flooding need to be reassessed, according to a leading academic from IPB University. Professor Hendrayanto emphasized that environmental issues such as floods, landslides, and droughts are more closely linked to ecosystem degradation, land-use change, and climate anomalies rather than the presence of oil palm plantations alone.
In his recent inaugural scientific lecture, Hendrayanto presented hydrological research examining water-use characteristics of oil palm and watershed responses in plantation-dominated landscapes. He noted that the findings are crucial to correcting long-standing public misconceptions.
“These results are important to share because oil palm is often blamed for a wide range of environmental problems,” he said, as quoted by Palmoilmagazine.com from IPB University, on Sunday (May 3, 2026).
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The study, based on measurements of transpiration and evapotranspiration, found that oil palm’s water consumption is broadly comparable to that of other plantation and forestry species. Transpiration rates in oil palm were shown to be similar to crops such as rubber, mahogany, and acacia, challenging the perception that oil palm absorbs excessive amounts of water.
“Oil palm is not a water-intensive crop, as its transpiration rate is comparable to other species like rubber, mahogany, and acacia,” Hendrayanto explained.
At the landscape level, the research also revealed that hydrological responses in watersheds dominated by oil palm plantations are not significantly different from those dominated by rubber plantations. This suggests that plantation type alone is not the determining factor in environmental outcomes.
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Instead, Hendrayanto highlighted that the root causes of environmental degradation lie in broader landscape transformations, particularly the conversion and degradation of tropical rainforests. The shift from natural forests to plantations, settlements, or other land uses can significantly alter hydrological cycles.
Uncontrolled natural resource exploitation, weak spatial planning, and global climate anomalies further exacerbate the frequency and severity of hydrometeorological disasters such as floods, landslides, and droughts.
Despite these concerns, Hendrayanto acknowledged the significant economic contribution of the palm oil industry, particularly in job creation and foreign exchange earnings. He stressed that discussions on environmental impacts should be framed within a comprehensive landscape management perspective rather than attributing blame to a single commodity.
He concluded that the most effective approach to reducing environmental risks lies in integrated landscape management, watershed-based spatial planning, and the adoption of best management practices in natural resource use.
Such an approach, he said, would help balance economic, social, and ecological interests in a more sustainable manner, including in regions where oil palm plantations continue to expand. (P2)
