Social interpretations of Disaster and Deforestation in Indonesia’s palm oil regions
‘’mungkin Tuhan mulai bosan melihat tingkah kita yang selalu salah dan bangga dengan dosa-dosa’’ (in bahasaIndonesia) song by Ebiet. G.Ade. It is not just a fragment of the lyrics of the song but also has such a deep meaning of what has happened in Indonesia at the end of last year and before. Indonesia is one of the countries prone to natural disasters. It should be the responsibility of those of us who live and those of us who are responsible for the place we live. not only the community but the government is also the main foundation for the environment in Indonesia.
Land expansion and deforestation have sparked cultural reflection and political debate. Environmental disasters such as floods and landslides have become recurring crises in palm oil producing regions in Indonesia. What is Land Expansion and Deforestation? Expansion is the process of expanding land use areas for plantations, agriculture, or settlements, by utilizing areas such as forests or land. While deforestation refers to the loss of forest environment due to land conversion, this condition results in forests no longer having tree cover and losing their ecological function.
In some cases these events are interpreted as natural rage, when in fact they are largely the result of deforestation driven by state land use policies and poor environmental governance prioritizing economic growth over ecological sustainability. The community interprets environmental disasters as an expression of natural anger rooted in belief and spirituality. Within the framework of local culture, nature is seen as the intensity of life that must remain in balance with human behavior. When forests are over-cut and environmental ecosystems are disrupted, natural disasters are considered a consequence of human greed or moral imbalance.
This is reinforced by religious teachings as well as traditional values that emphasize responsibility for the preservation of nature. In this case, it can be said that a disaster is not only about a physical event but also a moral warning that calls for Limits. This narrative shapes how society socially and emotionally responds to environmental crises and meanings in times of uncertainty and loss. In times of crisis, framing disasters as moral events shapes society to maintain solidarity and collective identity. By interpreting disasters as a moral framework, society is able to transform suffering into self-evaluation and reflection, and reinforce a sense and values of responsibility towards nature and the environment. This fosters prudent environmental behavior at the local level. However, such narratives only strengthen moral awareness and social cohesion. On the other hand, the narrative simultaneously limits political involvement and structural factors that contribute to environmental sustainability.
For example, the flash floods and landslides that hit the province of Sumatra as a whole caused damage to settlements, educational facilities, houses of worship, health facilities, and road access. Not only that, the tragedy of this disaster resulted in thousands of victims and even hundreds of people who are still missing to this day. Researchers assert that extreme weather is only a trigger, while environmental disturbances are the main factor that exacerbates the destructive power of disasters. The degradation of forest ecosystems upstream of the watershed results in the loss of the hydrological function of the forest as a natural buffer.
Large-scale forest conversion also alters natural ecosystems and reduces environmental resilience. Forests essentially play an important role in regulating the water cycle, preventing soil erosion, and maintaining biodiversity. When forests are cleared, land becomes empty and vulnerable to floods, landslides, and bad droughts that are detrimental from all sides. Forest hydrology researcher Hatma Suryatmojo explained that forest vegetation functions like a “giant sponge” capable of absorbing rainwater into the soil (infiltration) and holding water (interception) from flowing directly into the river. The damage was further exacerbated by massive industrial expansion and land conversion. The Mining Advocacy Network (JATAM) noted that the island of Sumatra has been made a “sacrifice zone” for the mining industry, with at least 1,907 Mining Business Permit (IUP) areas and 2.45 million hectares of active land, which is larger than the entire land area of Singapore. Oil palm plantation concessions that exceed ecological limits are also a factor in disasters. The loss of trees reduces the soil’s ability to absorb rainwater, resulting in runoff of the water surface in nearby areas. Deforestation also disrupts local climate patterns, leading to increased temperatures and greater environmental instability. Ecological transformation shows that the so-called “natural disasters” are not entirely natural events, but are strongly linked to environmental changes driven by human behavior and greed.
Weak environmental governance and land use policies increase ecological risks in palm oil producing areas in Indonesia. For more than a decade, this policy has encouraged large-scale oil palm expansion as a driver of national economic growth, even providing large-scale land concessions for plantation development. However, inadequate environmental impact assessments, and even poor environmental enforcement, allow deforestation to occur without adequate ecological protection. The regulatory framework in question is to protect forests which are often affected by inconsistent implementation and limited monitoring capacity.
In one case, the overlap of permits and unclear land tenure systems complicates environmental management, weakening accountability mechanisms. In the book Land Degradation and Society by Piers Blaikie and Harold Brookfie introduces “political ecology” emphasizing that land degradation is not only the result of local activities, but is also influenced by power structures, state policies, and global markets, this is understood as socio-economic structural. As a result, environmental degradation is not only an unintended consequence, but also a predictable outcome of policy priorities that prioritize economic expansion over land governance. This failure shows that the environment is shaped by institutional decisions.
The development of the palm oil industry reflects the broad dynamics of political and economic power to shape environmental decision-making in Indonesia, the relationship between these two elements creates an imbalance, where short-term economic interests by certain groups dominate the ecological agenda and sacrifice environmental sustainability and community welfare. As one of the largest palm oil producers in the world, Indonesia depends on this commodity for export income. As explained in Dependency Theory by Andre Gunder Frank, Fernando Henrique Cardoso, and Immanuel Wallerstein, the world is divided into Core-Periphry and Indonesia is still dependent on crude palm oil (CPO) with low price value.
Indonesia as a palm oil exporter has ambitions to increase production and is dependent on the global market. As a result, oil palm has become an integral part of the Development strategy and political agenda. Large-scale Plantation projects are often supported through investment incentives, infrastructure expansion, and frameworks designed to attract domestic and foreign capital. In political economic structures, economic growth often takes precedence over environmental sustainability, creating systemic pressure for production expansion even in the face of high ecological risks. In addition, the strong role of corporations and investors plays a significant role in influencing land use decisions, further shaping the direction of environmental governance. These dynamics show that deforestation as a consequence is not just about the outcome of isolated decisions, but part of the ambition and development model that links the economy and environmental exploitation.
Environmental degradation in oil palm plantation areas has resulted in villagers, smallholders, and indigenous groups feeling severe impacts. In theory Soco-Ecological Systems (SES) is an analytical approach to understanding the complex relationship of dependency between humans and nature. In the case of environmental degradation, tropical forests as a resource system but have been converted into land resulting in hydrological damage, natural products/forest products (Resource units) resulting in a decrease in water quality and loss of alternative food sources, small farmers (users), environmental regulations (Governance system). Many of the communities depend on natural resources for their livelihoods, so ecological disturbances are very sensitive to their survival. Damaged crops, sources, polluted water, and declining soil fertility are threats both in terms of income and food security. Increased disaster risk due to low preparedness and limited health services, infrastructure, and resources are often a major problem when disasters occur. This highlights how environmental degradation is interrelated with social inequality, reinforcing patterns of vulnerability in the affected regions.
Describing disasters solely as natural or moral events risks concealing structural responsibilities in environmental governance. The narrative of nature’s anger is inadvertently a diversion from policy-triggered environmental degradation. When disasters are seen primarily as spiritual warnings or inevitable natural cycles, public discourse may ignore the role of land-use decisions, regulatory weaknesses, and economic priorities that exacerbate ecological vulnerabilities. This does not mean that cultural interpretations are invalid; Rather, it highlights the need to critically analyze how those narratives interact with political reality.
By viewing disasters as socially and politically generated risks, it becomes possible to demand greater accountability and more sustainable governance practices. This critical perspective allows society to go beyond symbolic explanations towards structural reform. Disasters that occur in Indonesia, especially in plantation areas, must be understood as cultural narratives and the results of environmental policies that are influenced by policies. The important role of the government in the management of the environment and natural resources is the main thing, starting from land licensing, ecosystem stability and people’s welfare is the main responsibility that should be the main focus in the midst of economic and global problems.
And on the other hand, through the understanding and policies provided about the importance of preserving nature and environmental ecosystems, the community will understand that it is all for the survival of the common life. However, it is unfortunate to see the current condition of the community that is not fully prosperous, policies that only benefit certain communities are even more suffering in the midst of disasters that are present due to human greed. Like any other game in the game, it is self-defeating but causes a lot of casualties and misery for human ambition that never feels enough.
By: FIYANA RUSTIQIYAWATI
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