Indonesia proposes conversion of peatland to oil palm production; Greenpeace erupts in protest over potential carbon debt

In Indonesia, Greenpeace and other activist groups are opposing plans announced by the national government to permit oil palm plantations to be established in the country’s last remaining peatlands. The activists say that the tilling of peatlands would release large amounts of stored carbon, and create a carbon debt that the emissions reductions of pal-based biodiesel could not repay for many years. The national government had previously announced a pledge to reduce emissions from the forestry sector, which includes peatlands, by 50 percent in 2009, and up to 95 percent by 2025.

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