Jakarta (ANTARA) -

Indonesia’s Forestry Ministry said on Thursday that the development of industrial timber plantations (HTI) for biomass energy is a strategic measure to expand the renewable energy supply, restore degraded ecosystems, and strengthen the country’s contribution to climate change mitigation.

Tony Rianto, Head of the Sub-Directorate of Forest Product Certification and Marketing at the ministry, said industrial timber plantations managed sustainably do not drive deforestation.

On the contrary, he explained that sustainable plantation management plays a crucial role in rehabilitating critical land, providing renewable energy, and achieving the 2030 Forestry and Other Land Use (FOLU) Net Sink target.

"With sustainable forest management, industrial timber plantations for biomass energy can maintain the ecological, social, and economic functions of forests," he said in a statement in Jakarta.

He said such plantations would reduce reliance on fossil fuels and boost energy security.

The government expects industrial timber plantations for energy use to bring tangible benefits to local communities, including job creation, regional investment, diversification of domestic energy sources, and stronger export competitiveness, particularly for wood pellets.

Rianto said that the ministry is aware of concerns raised by civil society groups over the potential impacts of the biomass industry. To address them, the government has introduced a number of strategic steps to ensure the plantation development is aligned with sustainability principles.

These measures include strict regulations, technology-based monitoring, mandatory sustainability certification (SVLK), and law enforcement against violators.

“With these steps, the development of industrial timber plantations will not only support clean energy but also safeguard Indonesia’s forests,” he said.

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