Indonesia's biomass industry threatens key forests: report. October 10, 2024
- Ana Cunha-Busch
- Oct 9, 2024
- 2 min read
By AFP - Agence France Presse
Indonesia's biomass industry threatens key forests: report.
According to a report released on Thursday, Indonesia's drive to add wood burning to its energy mix and exports is causing deforestation, including in important habitats for endangered species such as orangutans.
Bioenergy, which uses organic materials such as trees to produce energy, is considered renewable by the International Energy Agency because the carbon released by burning biomass can theoretically be absorbed by planting more trees.
However, critics say that biomass plants emit more carbon dioxide per unit of energy produced than modern coal plants and warn that using biomass to “co-fire” coal plants is just a way of extending the life of the polluting fossil fuel.
The production of pellets and wood chips used in “co-firing” coal plants also risks boosting deforestation, with natural forests cut down and replaced by fast-growing monocultures.
According to a report produced by a group of Indonesian and regional NGOs, this is exactly what is happening in Indonesia, which is home to the third largest area of rainforest in the world.
“The country's forests face unprecedented threats due to the projected industrial scale of biomass demand,” said the groups, which include Auriga Nusantara and Earth Insight.
According to the report, Indonesia's wood pellet production alone jumped from 20,000 to 330,000 tons from 2012 to 2021.
Auriga Nusantara estimates that around 10,000 hectares of deforestation have been caused by biomass production in the last four years.
- Forests for 'human survival' -
However, the report warns that much more is at risk as Indonesia increases biomass, especially in its coal-fired power plants.
The report analyzed Indonesia's existing co-firing plants and pulp mills and the 100 kilometers (62 miles) around each of them.
They estimate that more than 10 million hectares of “undisturbed forest” are in these areas and are at risk of deforestation, many of which “overlap significantly” with the habitat of endangered species.
Among the animals at risk are orangutans in Sumatra and Borneo, according to the report.
The use of wood to reduce coal use by just 10% in Indonesia's largest power plants “could lead to the deforestation of an area approximately 35 times the size of Jakarta”, the report warned.
Indonesian Environment and Forestry Ministry officials did not immediately respond to AFP's request for comment.
Indonesia recorded a 27% jump in primary forest loss last year, after a downward trend since peaking in 2015-2016, according to the World Resources Institute.
The groups also point the finger at the growing demand from South Korea and Japan, two of the main export destinations for Indonesia's wood pellets.
They called for Indonesia to commit to protecting its remaining natural forest and reform its energy plans to focus on solar power while banning new coal projects.
Japan and South Korea should end incentives for biomass and focus on cleaner renewable options, the group called for.
“There are no mathematical tricks that justify burning forests for energy production,” the NGOs said.
“Science has proven the vital role of tropical forests for climate stability, biodiversity and human survival.”
mrc-sah/rsc
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