The South Asian country of Indonesia is planning to conduct the world’s largest deforestation program, almost the size of Belgium, to produce sugarcane-derived bioethanol, rice and other food crops. This will potentially displace indigenous groups who rely on the land to survive.

Indigenous communities have noted that they have already experienced harm from the government-backed projects.

Biodiversity Loss

Indonesia is home to the world’s third-largest rainforest and many endangered species, including orangutan, elephants and giant forest flowers. Environmental watchdogs have warned that the largest planned deforestation operation in Indonesia will cause harm to its flora and fauna.

The country’s ambitious plan is to build food estates, massive plantations to improve food security and improve the energy mix to develop renewable resources.

The current president, Prawobo Subianto, has expanded projects to include crops that produce bioethanol or renewable fuel made from plants like sugarcane or corn. 

“I am confident that within 4 to 5 years at the latest, we will achieve food self-sufficiency. We must be self-sufficient in energy and we will have the capacity to achieve this,” said Prawobo in October 2024.