https://www.ft.com/content/27a6bd42-aa95-449f-97b7-7a086da42bac
"Indonesia is clearing forests at a rapid pace with military assistance in one
of its most biodiverse regions for a state-backed agricultural project, even as
recent fatal floods have illustrated the dangers of deforestation.
Billed as a project to ensure the fourth most populous nation’s food and energy
security, Indonesia is planning to cultivate rice and sugar on 3mn hectares in
the eastern province of Papua. The area covers a mix of primary forests,
grasslands, woodlands and wetlands.
It will ultimately be five times the size of London and bring irreversible
environmental consequences, worsen greenhouse gas emissions and reverse the
south-east Asian country’s progress over the past decade in slowing
deforestation for palm oil production.
A former general is overseeing the project, and five battalions have been
placed in Papua to support the government’s food security initiatives in the
province.
Residents and local activists say soldiers are involved in the clearing of
forests and eviction of residents, in addition to providing security. Some
soldiers have posted videos on TikTok posing with excavators and regular
patrols.
Military posts have also been set up near food estate developments, according
to the residents and satellite imagery analysed by the Financial Times.
“Since the clearing of the forest, the military has been actively involved,”
said Ariston Moiwen, a resident in the South Papua town of Merauke, whose
family land has been taken over for rice cultivation. “The military operates
the heavy equipment too,” said Ariston, who still lives nearby.
Between May 2024 and November 2025, more than 40,000 hectares of land were
cleared, according to an FT analysis of satellite imagery.
While a fraction of the total being razed, the pace has been swift. Most of the
land cleared so far is being prepared for sugarcane, which will also be used to
produce bioethanol.
“It’s hard to justify this project from any perspective . . . environmental,
climate and the wellbeing of local communities,” said Glenn Hurowitz, chief
executive of environmental group Mighty Earth."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
