West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) , specifically the whole South Coast of Lombok under the district of Lombok Tengah, is currently undergoing mass deforestation due to large-scale, mono-cropping, specifically of GMO corn.

This includes the whole Mandalika Area, an ITDC national strategic project, designated as a Special Economic Zone of over 1,175 hectars reserved for Eco-Tourism and with 51% of its area meant to be regenerated as green forests spaces.
 
The Corn Farmers, encouraged by the PIJAR NTB program of subsidies and facilitation of GMO Seeds and Chemical Fertilizers, have not only spread across the land belonging to local community, but have also entered without permission hectares of privately owned prime touristic land, deforesting and burning everything to plant seasonal corn, including over 50% of ITDC’s Mandalika’s “Green Forest Eco Tourism Areas” and over 80% of Protected Forestry Area of Gunung Pepe. 

Photos October 2019 vs November 2022 private land deforested without permission. 50 hectars of land destined for Turtle Reef Santuary Eco Development put on hold:

The consequences of this massive deforestation are already visible and are impacting the recovery and success of the tourism sector of the whole area:

 • Investors have already, and will continue to, put projects on hold or stop projects completely due to the uncertain future of Lombok’s ability to protect and defend “Eco Tourism Zones” from bad intensive agricultural practices. This means millions of dollars of potential investment at risk which is crucial for the success of the Mandalika National Project at NTB.

• Severe Floods and landslides are happening every year now, affecting the newly built Mandalika Infrastructure and the touristic area of Kuta Mandalika, where lays the majority of tourism accommodation and hospitality sector of the area.

• Tourists openly complain, posting in social media, as after every rain, the beaches become brown for days and smell of chemicals, due to the water run offs full of pesticides that come down the deforested hills straight into our tropical white sandy beaches, the jewel of this touristic development.
 
But these short term already visible consequences are not the only ones this area will face unless there is a stop to the spread of illegal deforestation and corn monocrops practices throughout private plots in the tourist prime areas of South Lombok and the Protected Forestry Areas of the same region. 
 
Deforestation and mono-cropping have massive negative impacts on the environment including: 
- Massive Flooding
- Droughts
- Erosion
- Landslides
- Desertification
- Contamination of beaches and the ocean.
- Destruction of coral reefs and fisheries.  
- Contamination of underwater aquifers and wells from chemical pesticides.  
- Increased risk of wildfires.
- Loss of Flora and Fauna autochthonous to this region.
 
These environmental impacts will bring long term devastating consequences on the livelihood of local communities which depend on fishing and tourism, on local and foreign-owned businesses, tourism sector and future of the whole region.
 
- South Lombok is already a “Water Stressed Area”, allowing deforestation will be the end of the natural replenishing of our underwater sources which are the only water provision this area has during the long dry seasons. Monocroping will dry our wells as deforestation reduces the rain water infiltration down to minus 80% versus green forests covered areas.

- Mono-cropping over the course of a just a few years will reduce significantly the amount of rain in the area, as 40% of rainfall happens from the short water cycle that forests and trees evapotranspiration create. We will become a dessert.
 
- Deforestation and Monocropping will strip the soil of all nutrients, ultimately making future agriculture or reforestation impossible. Regeneration after that will take years and will be very costly and difficult.

- Tourists will not want to visit areas with barren lands and corn farms. Tourists come to Indonesia to experience green beautiful tropical jungle and blue can clean beach environments. The tourism sector is at risk if we allow this monocrop farming and deforestation to keep happening.

- Popular surf breaks, such as those in Gerupuk and Are Guling, can be destroyed due to build-up of sand and soil from topsoil runoff. This will destroy jobs and tourism related to surfing which mean a massive income to the local community and whole region.  

- Contamination of the ocean from the chemical pesticides will kill aquatic life and coral reefs, leading to devastation for fishing and seaweed farming communities, as well as the destruction of the Touristic Ocean Activities such as diving and spear fishing which bring so much income to this area. 

- Use of pesticides that are known to cause cancer and other illness will have devastating effects on public health. Let’s remind everyone that these pesticides (Paraquat and Glyphosate) in particular that work with GMO crops are currently banned in over 30 countries due to their health hazards.
 
This is a desperate situation.

We need all local and foreign residents, business owners, and potential investors to help us stop deforestation for corn farming in the South Coast Tourist Region.

1.    We need to stop illegal corn practices in privately owned prime land.
2.    We need to push ITDC to reforest their “Green Spaces” as part of their Eco Tourism Mandalika Program.
3.    We need the Forestry Department to allow and facilitate the reforestation and protection the Protected Forest Areas.
4.    We need to push Forestry Department to educate and help farmers implement more sustainable agriculture methods, such as agroforestry, fruit and nut farming, and minimum tree canopy requirements before it is too late.

Only if we succeed, South Lombok can become a desirable place to live, for local communities, expats, investors and tourists. Only if we succeed Sustainable Prosperity will happen in this area.

The Deforestation and the Corn Monocrops needs to stop.

Please help us by signing this petition!

Some images showing just a small example of the damage already done, such damage extends across all of south Lombok.