Jokowi Pushes Mining and Oil Palm Plantation to Build Plant Nurseries

TheIndonesia.id - President Joko Widodo said he would ‘force’ all mine and oil palm plantation owners and enterprises to create plant nurseries to ensure the preservation of the environment.

He said plant nurseries could be a great deal in the effort to restore the ecosystem in which mines are oil palm plantations are located.

“We will force and require every oil palm and mining company to prepare plant nurseries to ensure ecosystem recovery in the area,” President Jokowi said in Bogor on Friday, November 19.

The government, he said, will also build at least 30 plant nurseries in Indonesia within the next three years.

During his visit to Rumpin Seed Source and Nursery Center (RSSNC), the President added that by creating similar facilities, Indonesia’s government can show its commitment to tackle the climate change issues and anticipate its impacts on the planet.

“We want to show that Indonesia is serious in handling the impacts of climate change, and we will prove it,” he said.

RSSNC, which is a collaboration project between the governments of Indonesia and South Korea, is able to produce more than 12 million tree seeds every year, and in January 2022, the seeds are expected to be planted in flood- and landslide-prone areas. Nurseries are also expected to provide solutions for critical lands that require rehabilitation.

Environmental issue has been highlighted in Indonesia in the last few weeks. In addition to the extensive coverage of the UN Climate Change Conference or COP26 in Glasgow earlier this month, President Jokowi’s speech during the event was also openly criticized by Greenpeace Indonesia. This led to the environment-focused organization being reported to the police as chairman of Cyber Indonesia, Husain Shihab, deemed the critic as a hoax and a form of hate speech.

The police report has since been withdrawn.