THE LOOMING DEFORESTATION THREAT FROM ENERGY WOOD PLANTATION

The report argues that Indonesia's biomass co-firing policy, led by PT Perusahaan Listrik Negara (PLN), threatens natural forests. To achieve 10% co-firing across 107 coal power plants, Trend Asia estimates a need for at least 2.33 million hectares of energy wood plantations. Based on historical data showing 38% of industrial timber plantations were established via deforestation, the report warns that this policy could increase annual deforestation rates from 630 thousand to 2.1 million hectares. It further highlights contradictions between the government's Enhanced NDC emission targets and its increasing deforestation quotas, while noting that biomass burning creates a 'carbon debt' rather than being carbon neutral.

• To support 10% biomass co-firing across 107 coal power plant (PLTU) units, PT Perusahaan Listrik Negara (PLN) would require an annual biomass supply of 10.23 million tons, necessitating energy wood plantations (HTE) covering at least 2.33 million hectares.
• The expansion of HTEs risks significantly accelerating deforestation; depending on the tree species planted, the annual deforestation rate could rise from 630 thousand hectares to as high as 2.1 million hectares.
• Historical data from MapBiomas Indonesia indicates that 38% of industrial timber plantation (HTI) cover in 2019 was created through the clearing of natural forests, a figure used as a benchmark for HTE deforestation potential.
• The potential for deforestation is highest when planting gamal (Gliricidia Sepium) and lowest when planting lamtoro gung (Leucaena leucocephala).
• Indonesia's Enhanced NDC (2022) contains contradictory goals: it increases unconditional greenhouse gas emission targets to 31.89% but also increases the unconditional annual deforestation rate limit for 2020-2030 from 325 thousand to 359 thousand hectares.
• The report challenges the claim that wood pellet biomass is carbon neutral, citing research that burning forest biomass creates a 'carbon debt' that can last for years or decades.
• Approximately 9.48 million hectares of natural forest in Indonesia remain unprotected under the Indicative Map for Suspension of New Permit Issuances (PIPPIB), with the largest unprotected areas located in Maluku and Papua.

APA

Muhajir, M., Febrian, R., Nagara, G., Saputra, P. A., Damanik, I., Oktaviani, A. R., Erlina, M. I., Indradi, Y., & Nasution, M. (2022). THE LOOMING DEFORESTATION THREAT FROM ENERGY WOOD PLANTATION. Trend Asia. https://trendasia.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/REV-EN-Artikel-Ancaman-Deforestasi.pdf#pages=10

Chicago

Muhajir, Mumu, Ramada Febrian, Grahat Nagara, Putut Aryo Saputra, Iqbal Damanik, Amalya Reza Oktaviani, Meike Inda Erlina, Yuyun Indradi, and Marina Nasution. THE LOOMING DEFORESTATION THREAT FROM ENERGY WOOD PLANTATION. Trend Asia, 2022. https://trendasia.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/REV-EN-Artikel-Ancaman-Deforestasi.pdf#pages=10.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Muhajir |first1=Mumu |last2=Febrian |first2=Ramada |last3=Nagara |first3=Grahat |last4=Saputra |first4=Putut Aryo |last5=Damanik |first5=Iqbal |last6=Oktaviani |first6=Amalya Reza |last7=Erlina |first7=Meike Inda |last8=Indradi |first8=Yuyun |last9=Nasution |first9=Marina |title=THE LOOMING DEFORESTATION THREAT FROM ENERGY WOOD PLANTATION |publisher=Trend Asia |date=November 2022 |url=https://trendasia.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/REV-EN-Artikel-Ancaman-Deforestasi.pdf#pages=10 |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{muhajir2022looming, author = {Muhajir, Mumu and Febrian, Ramada and Nagara, Grahat and Saputra, Putut Aryo and Damanik, Iqbal and Oktaviani, Amalya Reza and Erlina, Meike Inda and Indradi, Yuyun and Nasution, Marina}, title = {{THE LOOMING DEFORESTATION THREAT FROM ENERGY WOOD PLANTATION}}, institution = {Trend Asia}, year = {2022}, month = nov, url = {https://trendasia.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/REV-EN-Artikel-Ancaman-Deforestasi.pdf#pages=10}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }