TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Environment and Forestry Minister Siti Nurbaya on Thursday once again talked about infrastructure development and deforestation. She said President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo insisted infrastructure development must align with policies meant to reduce deforestation and emissions.

“The President’s message is clear, there must be balance,” said Siti Nurbaya in a written statement on Thursday.

In Friday’s statement, Siti Nurbaya said the President had pressured state ministries to pay attention to the environment in every development project. She added Indonesia had shown its commitment to reducing deforestation and emission level.

Siti issued a statement on Wednesday that was considered to be controversial as she implied that stopping national development for zero deforestation was against the 1945 Constitution. She said that infrastructure development was one of the national goals meant to improve people’s welfare and economy.

While the government claimed deforestation had dropped significantly in the past two decades and land fires were able to be reduced by 82 percent in 2020, Forest Watch Indonesia (FWI) executive director Mufti Barri said deforestation in Indonesia had actually increased from 1.1 million hectares (2009-2013) to 1.47 million hectares (2013-2017).

Forest Watch Indonesia said massive deforestation only took place in a number of locations. “Deforestation in other places have indeed dropped but not because of the government’s efforts but rather the forest natural resources that have depleted,” he said on November 1.

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FAJAR PEBRIANTO