AP: World’s largest deforestation project fells forests for bioethanol fuel, sugar and rice in Indonesia
Associated Press’ Victoria Milko reports:
JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) — Indonesia plans to clear forests about the size of Belgium to produce sugarcane-derived bioethanol, rice and other food crops, potentially displacing Indigenous groups who rely on the land to survive.
Local communities say they’re already experiencing harm from the government-backed project, which environmental watchdogs say is the largest current planned deforestation operation in the world.[…]
“Imagine every piece of vegetation in that area being completely cleared … having all the trees and the wildlife erased from the landscape and replaced with a monoculture,” said Glenn Hurowitz, CEO of Mighty Earth. “It’s creating a zone of death in one of the most vibrant spots on Earth.”
