Jakarta – Greenomics Indonesia's spatial verification results on the "Global Forest Cover Change 2000-2012" map, which was published by the University of Maryland in the US in mid-November, show that oil palm plantations have been mapped out as forest cover gains.

"The mapping needs to be questioned further on whether oil palm plantations have been scientifically categorized as forest cover, or world class researchers have made a mistake in interpreting satellite image data," Greenomics Indonesia director Elfian Effendi said in an official release, on Monday.

He gave oil palm plantations belonging to Sinarmas Group in Papua as an example. "The Global Forest Cover Change map has mapped out oil palm plantations owned by Sinarmas Group in Papua as forest cover gains," said Elfian.

As the consequence, he said, it was strange if oil palm plantation companies in Indonesia claimed that their oil palm plantations had played crucial roles in increasing global forest cover.

"Greenomics asks related institutions to seek clarification on the map to professor Hansen, as the head of research in the Global Forest Cover Change study team based at the University of Maryland," said Elfian. "We will also ask for technical explanations from the professor in the near future," he went on. (ebf)