Japan’s biomass energy boom threatens further deforestation in Indonesia

ISLAMABAD — A surge in Indonesia’s wood pellet and chip production is driving a new wave of deforestation, threatening the vast archipelago’s remaining tropical forests, vital biodiversity hot spots and the land of Indigenous peoples, according to new satellite analysis from environmental nongovernmental organisations.Biomass power, predominantly generated by burning wood, is growing globally as countries accelerate their transition to use cleaner energy.”The biomass industry has become a new driver of deforestation in Indonesia,” said Timer Manurung, director of Indonesia-based organisation Auriga Nusantara, which contributed to the new analysis. “And most of the biomass product is for export, with Japan as the biggest destination.”As Japan’s demand for Indonesian wood pellets skyrockets in an effort to meet its own renewable energy goals, critics say continued subsidies and weak oversight of the supply chain are likely to allow continued razing of pristine Indonesian forests.