Environmental Alarms Sound Across Indonesia: Food Estates, Hydropower, Poaching, Illegal Mining Intensify

Environmental alarms are sounding from across Indonesia. August saw a series of natural disasters, including floods, landslides, droughts, fires, and earthquakes, yet the government appears to be ignoring these warnings of environmental threats. Many government priority programs are not considering environmental and social aspects. Instead of preserving nature, human negligence has created conditions far worse than before. From Sumatra to Nusa Tenggara, issues such as the failure of the government's flagship 'food estate' project, environmental crises due to hydropower, wildlife poaching, and illegal mining are emerging. In particular, the food estate project in Belu Regency, East Nusa Tenggara, is having a significant impact on farmers. The shift to a monoculture system, which relies on government support for seeds, fertilizers, and pesticides, has led to a loss of crop diversity, increased risks of drought and pest outbreaks, and reduced soil fertility. Since the cessation of government support in 2024, many farmers have suffered losses. These events highlight not only environmental destruction but also the weakness of government oversight and the lack of seriousness in protecting nature and the people who live in it.