Ministry of Forestry Directs 5.67 Million Hectares of Forest for Sustainable Business

Sugar palm for bioenergy, coffee and cocoa for food

PAPH 2026 contains special allocations to support food and energy security. Based on a study by the Ministry of Forestry together with the Ministry of Agriculture, around 387,641 hectares were directed for the development of sugar palm as a source of bioenergy.

In addition, around 68,454 hectares are allocated for agroforestry for various food and plantation commodities, such as rice, corn, soybeans, coffee and cocoa.

The Director of Forest Utilization Plan Development at the Ministry of Forestry, C. Hendro Widjanarko, emphasized that sugar palm development should not be carried out in monoculture.

According to Hendro, sugar palm plants can grow well in the shade and still maintain forest cover of around 50 percent.

"Aren actually grows well in the shade, with forest cover of around 50 percent. So, the scheme is mixed. The forest is maintained, the results can be harvested," he said.

This approach is expected to create economic value from forest areas while maintaining their ecological functions.