A negative stigma has long burdened Indonesia as a country prone to deforestation and degradation, and it has taken on a new dimension following the European Parliament’s enactment of the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) on Dec. 6, 2022. The regulation targets not only palm oil but also timber, furniture, rubber, beef, soy, coffee, and cocoa.
Despite successful diplomatic efforts to delay its implementation, the EUDR is set to take effect in December 2025, while negative campaigns continue to exert pressure.
“It is indeed ironic. The foundations of deforestation in the archipelago were laid by European colonial powers. Yet the narrative has been twisted, and the architects of destruction now accuse the victims. Therefore, the stigmatization of Indonesia as a deforestation-prone country must be countered through diplomacy rooted in deep national insight,” said Professor Priyono Suryanto, during his inauguration as a professor of agroforestry science at the Faculty of Forestry, Universitas Gadjah Mada (Forestry UGM), held at the UGM Senate Hall on Thursday, Jul. 24, 2025.
In Professor Suryanto’s view, Indonesia can assert a stronger position on the global stage by presenting scientific evidence of zero deforestation through agroforestry-based forestry practices.
He emphasized that the deforestation stigma should be challenged through diplomacy imbued with national consciousness.
What he termed Matarian Indonesia, born from the spirit of decolonizing scientific forestry, promotes a new narrative in Indonesian forestry history and historiography.
This decolonial spirit encourages nations to retrace and record their own historical journeys, as part of a broader effort to recover historical awareness beyond colonial narratives.
Delivering his inaugural speech titled Authentic Nusantara Agroforestry, the Art of Forest Reproduction, the Decolonization of Scientific Forestry, and the Agroforestry Science Revolution: Matarian Indonesia as the Beacon of Indonesian Agroforestry, Professor Suryanto stated that Matarian Indonesia should demand recognition of historical injustices as an act of political ecology that fosters global awareness and solidarity.
He noted that decolonization as a concept has expanded across various domains, becoming a relevant paradigm to address persisting historical disparities.
“Indonesia possesses historical evidence of Agroforestri Autentik Nusantara (Authentic Nusantara Agroforestry/AAN) through its agroforestry-based forestry practices, proof of zero deforestation. The legacy of AAN stretches from Sabang to Merauke, weaving together its rich diversity. This should be compiled as scientific evidence to strengthen Indonesia’s position globally. The narrative of Matarian Indonesia must be cohesively formulated and established as a national strategic document to be presented at national and international forums,” explained Professor Suryanto.
He further shared that being inaugurated as a professor in 2025 held special meaning for him, as it marked the beginning of a new perspective on the study of authentic agroforestry in Indonesia.
He expressed deep gratitude for the milestone, reflecting on his journey from a farming village to becoming a professor.
“It was once unthinkable for a village boy to reach this level. But thanks to the guidance of my resilient parents, the late H. Hadi Sukarno and the late Hj. Ginem, I have come this far. I hope everything I have done thus far is not far from what they had hoped for,” he expressed sincerely.
Author: Agung Nugroho
Post-editor: Lintang Andwyna
Photographer: Donnie Trisfian