Jakarta: Indonesia’s Forestry Ministry said on Thursday that developing industrial timber plantations (HTI) for biomass energy will help expand renewable energy, restore damaged land, and strengthen the country’s role in tackling climate change, reports Antara news.
Tony Rianto, who heads the Sub-Directorate of Forest Product Certification and Marketing at the ministry, said that when managed responsibly, timber plantations do not cause deforestation. Instead, he noted, they can help rehabilitate degraded land, provide renewable energy, and support the government’s 2030 Forestry and Other Land Use (FOLU) Net Sink target.
“With proper management, timber plantations for biomass can continue to protect the ecological, social, and economic roles of forests,” Rianto said in Jakarta.
He added that the shift will reduce dependence on fossil fuels and improve the country’s energy security. The government also expects the plantations to create jobs, attract investment, broaden domestic energy options, and boost wood pellet exports.
Rianto acknowledged concerns raised by civil society groups about the biomass industry’s impact but said the government has introduced safeguards. These include strict rules, technology-based monitoring, mandatory sustainability certification (SVLK), and action against violators.
“With these measures, the expansion of timber plantations will not only support clean energy but also protect Indonesia’s forests,” he said.
