QAYUUM AMRI  March 24th, 2017
JAKARTA, SAWIT INDONESIA – In response to the study result which said that palm oil is not the cause of deforestation, Indonesian Palm Oil Community (MAKSI) provide their support to the research carried out by Prof. Yanto Santosa from IPB.
The Head of Indonesian Palm Oil Community (MAKSI), Darmono Taniwiryono, said that MAKSI supported the research carried out by Prof. Yanto Santosa from IPB.
“Those who question the credibility of Prof. Yanto are as well questioning the credibility of the university that has entitled him as a Professor,” said Darmono in a written statement on Friday (24/3).
“Today, we cannot speak without any data from research result carried out with proper scientific principles,” he said.
Darmono said that the research methods applied by Prof. Yanto have been evaluated by the Research Committee of Indonesian Estate Crop Fund for Palm Oil (BPDPKS) which consists of 10 experts. “This is a real research. Not a joke as alleged by the Executive Director of Sawit Watch,” he added.
Darmono, who is also a member of the Research Committee of BPDPKS, knows that the research does not stop in Riau, but it will continue to be carried on in other representing areas. Related to that matter, Darmono has asked Sawit watch to join the research team led by Prof. Yanto to conduct a joint research.
“They (Sawit Watch) certainly have to contribute some research funds for the operational of the experts,” he said.
Darmono thought that there was one more thing has not been understood by Sawit Watch that was the literature review about the history of deforestation. Referring to the history, we all know that massive deforestation occurred in between 1967 and early 1980s, after the issuance of the Forestry Act 1967 on concessions.
MAKSI is a gathering forum of palm oil researchers and academics. Moreover, MAKSI is incorporated as a member of an association of the Indonesia Palm Oil Board (DMSI).