Part 6/14:
Despite promising progress, concerns remain regarding the sustainability of biomass sourcing, especially wood. Critics argue that expanding biomass use—particularly deriving from large-scale plantations—may drive deforestation, threaten Indonesia’s rich biodiversity, and compromise its vital carbon sink forests.
The Dilemma of Deforestation and Land Use
Indonesia’s remaining natural forest cover spans around 96 million hectares, over half of which are forests—many of which serve as crucial carbon sinks absorbing atmospheric CO₂. To meet biomass demand, approximately 2.33 million hectares of energy plantations would be required—an area 35 times the size of Jakarta Province—raising fears of massive deforestation.