Bengkulu – The Bengkulu chapter of the Indonesian Forum for the Environment (Walhi) rejected a recent government ruling to classify oil palm as a forestry plant as it would expand plantation areas in forests.

Walhi activist Barlian said that most of production forests in Bengkulu had already been destroyed due to illegal logging and forest expansion.

"We are sure that they would plan oil palms on the deserted forest areas because [the ruling] has made it legal," he said on Sunday as quoted by Antara.

Walhi recorded that several palm oil plantations have expanded into forest areas since 2007. "One company opened 2,000 hectares areas inside the forests," said Barlian.