Biomass company threatens Borneo’s rainforest and Indigenous livelihoods

Indonesia’s push for biomass energy could lead to widespread deforestation in Borneo, threatening Indigenous communities who rely on the rainforest for their survival.

Hans Nicholas Jong and Philip Jacobson report for Mongabay.

In short:

• Biomass plantations are poised to clear significant portions of Borneo’s rainforest, despite claims of sustainability.
• Local Indigenous communities have reported coercive land deals with insufficient compensation, leaving them without livelihoods.
• Experts warn that burning woody biomass emits more CO2 than coal, raising concerns over the project’s environmental impact.

Key quote:

“This is a case of land grabbing, because there’s not enough information [being given to the villagers], so there’s no meaningful participation in the dialogue.”

— Amalya Reza Oktaviani, biomass program manager with Trend Asia.

Why this matters:
Biomass projects are not the clean energy solutions they claim to be, leading to more CO2 emissions and displacing communities that depend on rainforests for food and cultural survival. Indigenous people who’ve lived in harmony with these ecosystems for generations are now facing the loss of their homes, their food sources, and their entire way of life. Read more: Paris climate agreement overlooks wood pellet loophole.