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By Dr Al Chaidar Abdurrahman Puteh
Department of Anthropology, Malikussaleh University, Lhokseumawe, Aceh
In Indonesia’s forests, the metaphor of the predator is no longer confined to tigers or elephants. Instead, it extends to political elites—figures such as Zulkifli Hasan and Luhut Pandjaitan—who sit at the apex of the ecological food chain. Their decisions, policies, and alliances with extractive industries have consumed not only the land but also the very species that once symbolized the majesty of the archipelago’s biodiversity. The predator here is not a beast of the jungle, but a system of governance that devours ecosystems in the name of development and profit.
The Scale of Deforestation
According to WALHI (Friends of the Earth Indonesia), deforestation in 2025 is projected to increase by 0.5–0.6 million hectares, a staggering rise from the 0.2 million hectares recorded by government estimates. WALHI has repeatedly warned that Indonesia’s energy transition policies are being used to “legalize deforestation”, undermining indigenous communities and accelerating ecological collapse. This is not a natural cycle of forest loss, but a deliberate dismantling of ecosystems through state-sanctioned projects.
Greenpeace Southeast Asia underscores the urgency of protecting Indonesia’s forests, which host iconic species such as orangutans, Sumatran tigers, and elephants. These animals are not merely victims of poaching but of habitat destruction driven by industrial-scale agriculture, logging, and mining. Rainforest Trust adds that Indonesia’s forests shelter over 400 threatened terrestrial and marine species, making them one of the most critical biodiversity hotspots on Earth.
Political Figures as Apex Predators
The metaphor of predator becomes sharper when examining the role of political elites. Zulkifli Hasan, former Minister of Forestry, has been repeatedly criticized for policies that facilitated the conversion of protected forests into palm oil plantations. A viral confrontation with actor Harrison Ford highlighted how 70,000 hectares of protected forest were turned into illegal palm oil concessions under his watch. Hasan dismissed accusations of forest destruction as “Western propaganda,” yet the ecological evidence tells another story.
Similarly, Luhut Pandjaitan, a powerful coordinating minister, has been linked to extractive projects that prioritize economic gain over ecological sustainability. His influence in shaping Indonesia’s resource policies places him at the top of the food chain, consuming forests and biodiversity in the process. These figures embody the predator archetype: consuming not for survival, but for power and profit.
The Cost to Biodiversity
The consequences are devastating. Indonesia has fewer than 400 Sumatran tigers left in the wild, while elephant populations continue to decline due to habitat fragmentation. WALHI and other civil society organizations have demanded that at least 30% of Indonesia’s land and ocean be protected by 2030, with indigenous communities recognized as guardians of biodiversity. Yet, the predator-state resists such measures, preferring short-term economic extraction over long-term ecological survival.
Reflection
To call these elites “predators” is not hyperbole but a moral indictment. Unlike the tiger or elephant, whose predation sustains ecological balance, the political predator destabilizes it. The forest becomes a battlefield where power devours life, and where governance itself becomes complicit in extinction. The metaphor forces us to ask: who truly belongs at the top of the food chain? The tiger, whose survival depends on balance, or the minister, whose survival depends on destruction?
Indonesia’s forests are not merely resources; they are living archives of culture, biodiversity, and planetary health. To allow them to be consumed by predators in suits is to accept a future where elephants and tigers exist only in memory, and where the forest itself becomes a graveyard of policy failures.
Bibliography
- WALHI (Wahana Lingkungan Hidup Indonesia). (2025). WALHI: Energy transition policies legalize deforestation. WALHI Official Reports. Retrieved from https://walhi.or.id
- Greenpeace Southeast Asia. (2024). Indonesia’s forests: Protecting biodiversity and indigenous rights. Greenpeace Indonesia Publications. Retrieved from https://www.greenpeace.org/indonesia
- Rainforest Trust. (2023). Indonesia’s biodiversity hotspots and threatened species. Rainforest Trust Conservation Reports. Retrieved from https://www.rainforesttrust.org
- Mongabay. (2023). Indonesia’s deforestation and biodiversity crisis. Mongabay Environmental News. Retrieved from https://www.mongabay.com
- Kompas. (2013). Harrison Ford confronts Forestry Minister Zulkifli Hasan over illegal palm oil concessions. Kompas News Archive. Retrieved from https://www.kompas.com
- TribunNews. (2013). Zulkifli Hasan denies accusations of forest destruction. TribunNews Reports. Retrieved from https://www.tribunnews.com
- Jakarta Insider. (2024). Luhut Pandjaitan and extractive industries: Policy implications for Indonesia’s forests. Jakarta Insider Analysis. Retrieved from https://jakartainsider.com
- United Nations News. (2024). UN calls for stronger protection of Indonesia’s biodiversity. UN News Environment Section. Retrieved from https://news.un.org
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