oil palm plantation

200,000 Hectares of Oil Palm Plantation in Indonesia to Be Restored Into Forest

Share:

On the evening of 6 November 2023, a surprising announcement was made by Bambang Hendroyono, the Secretary-General of the Ministry of Forestry. It revealed that the Indonesian government is committed to restoring 200,000 hectares of oil palm plantation land located within the protected forest area in Kalimantan to its previous forest status. 

This pledge is in line with regulations implemented in 2020 aimed at enhancing the governance of the palm oil industry sector. Indonesia, renowned as the world’s largest palm oil producer and exporter for decades, has faced criticism from environmental activists and community groups for its previous expansion of oil palm plantation for commercial purposes.

 

 

Lihat postingan ini di Instagram

 

Sebuah kiriman dibagikan oleh USS Feed (@ussfeeds)


According to the relevant regulations, any company entering the 200,000 hectares of oil palm plantation is obligated to pay fines and submit the documents by the deadline of 2 November 2023.

These plantations encompass a total area of over 3.3 million hectares within protected forest zones, with only half of them identified by the government so far. Bambang suggests that the potential for further restoration efforts exists.

Government Initiatives to Restore Oil Palm Plantation to Forests

In response to this situation, the Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs, Mahfud MD, has expressed his intent to threaten and pursue legal action against unlicensed or illegal palm oil companies.

To date, the Indonesian government continues to conduct extensive audits to determine the plantations situated within protected forest areas. This diligence is imperative, as these protected forests in Kalimantan play a vital role in preserving the ecosystem and biodiversity of the region.

However, environmental activists remain critical of the government’s efforts, deeming them “belated” in addressing critical issues. Their aspiration is for the Indonesian government to intensify programs aimed at restoring illegal oil palm plantation, with the goal of ensuring the long-term preservation of Kalimantan’s original natural ecosystem.

Interested in this topic? Check out our other articles from Social Expat!

Content Writer

Yuriz absolutely loves content writing and exploring the nitty-gritty of various topics. It all started by chance, but writing quickly became an essential part of her life! Plus, she is a huge K-pop fan, jamming out to it all day, every day!

Related News

The proposed North Bali International Airport project, long discussed as a solution to the island’s regional development imbalance, is reportedly set to move forward following statements by high-ranking government officials. As reported by Antara, Coordinating Minister for Community Empowerment, Abdul Muhaimin Iskandar, commonly known as Cak Imin, confirmed on Thursday, 26 June 2025, that President […]

Foreign tourists visiting Bali during June may expect dry, sunny days. However, rainfall has still been observed, and this aligns with the latest forecast from Indonesia’s Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG), which states that the dry season’s onset has shifted. According to the Head of the Bali Climatology Station, Aminudin Al Roniri, the peak […]

The Jakarta Provincial Government is set to introduce a Car Free Night (CFN) every Saturday, beginning with a trial phase scheduled after the peak of Jakarta’s 488th-anniversary celebrations in late June 2025. This initiative is intended to encourage environmentally friendly activities and accommodate residents’ increasing preference for night-time exercise. Unlike the existing Car Free Day […]

Jetstar has announced the launch of a new direct international route between Newcastle Airport and Bali (Denpasar), with services scheduled to commence on 21 October 2025. This marks Newcastle’s return to regular international flights for the first time in over five years. The new service will operate three times per week using Jetstar’s modern A321LR […]

Indonesia Guide

Just For Fun

Write For Us

Exclusive Promotions

Event Gallery