Part 9/14:
Beyond environmental concerns, bioenergy projects raise issues related to indigenous land rights. Several local communities and indigenous groups, such as the Sikur and Mena in Indonesia, fear that large-scale plantations for biomass will encroach on their ancestral lands. Their livelihoods rely heavily on natural forests, both for sustenance and cultural practices, and the loss of forests could threaten their way of life.
Advocates for indigenous rights, like Gerson Marari Salo Baja, highlight that claims of biomass being "green" or "carbon-neutral" often ignore the social impacts and the sustainability of sourcing methods. They argue that ensuring biomass is sourced sustainably, with local communities involved, is essential to avoid environmental degradation and social injustice.