BOGOR - The Faculty of Forestry and Environment, IPB University, Prof. Dr. Ir. Hendrayanto, assessed the assumption that oil palm is a water-wasting plant and the main cause of flooding is not entirely correct if viewed from scientific evidence.
According to him, oil palm plantations are indeed growing rapidly in Indonesia and contributing to a large economy, both in terms of labor absorption and as a source of foreign exchange. However, this expansion is also accompanied by ecological changes, including in the hydrological cycle, which often creates negative perceptions of palm oil.
"The perception that palm oil is wasteful of water needs to be tested with scientific data. The results of the study show that water consumption is still in the moderate category," said Hendrayanto in the IPB University Professor's Lecture, Saturday, April 26.
He explained, at the individual level, the rate of palm oil transpiration ranges from 0.4 to 2.5 millimeters per day. This figure is considered comparable, even in many cases lower than other plants such as rubber, cocoa, and a number of hardwood trees.
"On an individual scale, palm oil cannot be categorized as a plant with excessive water consumption," he said.
Meanwhile, on the scale of the garden, he continued, water loss is not only from plant transpiration, but also from soil surface evaporation, wet vegetation, and water bodies. The total is reflected in evapotranspiration ranging from 3.0 to 4.5 millimeters per day.
"The contribution of transpiration is around 50 to 70 percent, while the rest comes from evaporation which is influenced by the structure of the garden such as the open space between the plantations," he explained.
Overall, he emphasized that the rate of transpiration and evapotranspiration of oil palm plantations is relatively equivalent to other plantation systems. In fact, the hydrological response of the water catchment area dominated by oil palm does not show a worse condition than the area dominated by rubber plants.
"This means that palm oil is not the main cause of water wastage, both at the plant, garden, and landscape levels," said Hendrayanto.
He assessed that the more fundamental problem lies in the degradation and conversion of tropical rainforests into other land uses, including plantations, plantation forests, and settlements. This land use change, coupled with climate anomalies, contributes to the increase in hydrometeorological disasters such as floods and landslides.
"Simplifying the problem by blaming palm oil as the main cause of environmental damage is not appropriate," he said.
Hendrayanto emphasized the importance of an integrated approach to landscape management and regional river basin management to maintain hydrological functions. He also encouraged the application of best practices in natural resource management.
"The solution is not to ban certain commodities, but to ensure sustainable and ecosystem-based management," he said.
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