Roundup: Indonesia reacts to forest conservation criticism by U.S. actor DiCaprio

Indonesia gave mixed responses on criticisms launched by the United States acclaimed actor Leonardo DiCaprio on the nation's rapid expansion of palm oil plantations and deforestation of rainforest that may threaten the life of endangered wildlife in Indonesia.

DiCaprio's criticisms were uploaded through his social media accounts shortly after he and his group visited Indonesia's natural conservancy area of Mount Leuser in westernmost province of Aceh last week.

Responding on contents of DiCaprio's statements in his social media accounts, Indonesian immigration office poised to ban him from entering the country should he keep postings such contents online.

"We can blacklist him from returning to Indonesia at anytime if he keeps posting incitements or provocative statements in his social media," Spokesperson of Indonesian Immigration office Heru Santoso was quoted as saying by a local media recently.

During his brief visit in the natural conservancy area, DiCaprio also pledged his supports on an online petition initiated by local environmentalist group aimed at saving the natural conservancy area.

The petition was issued related to the upcoming amendment of Aceh province's spatial planning which would not include the area in national strategic area, something that was considered of may put the conservancy area at risk to continue its function.

The petition was addressed to Indonesian President Joko Widodo, home affairs minister, Aceh governor and Aceh parliament speaker.

In his personal Instagram, DiCaprio posted photos of him and several people with elephant and orangutans in Mount Leuser conservancy area, with one of those in the photo spread a banner that says "Save Leuser Ecosystem".

In his posting alongside with the photo DiCaprio wrote that the conservancy area has a world-class biodiversity. The Leuser ecosystem is located in one of the most important rainforest left remaining in Southeast Asia, he wrote.

He went on saying that Indonesian forest hosts Orangutan species which almost extinct at present. Expansion of palm oil plantation destroys the unique ecosystem, he added.

"It's now about time to save Leuser ecosystem. We must organize permanent solution to protect and return this precious asset," he said in his statement.

Responding to DiCaprio's postings Indonesian Environment and Forestry Affairs Minister Siti Nurbaya said that DiCaprio was apparently lack of information to criticize deforestation in Indonesia.

She said that Indonesia has conducted coordinated efforts to address deforestation issues comprehensively, particularly on palm oil plantation. "We conducted our efforts to improve this issue since decades ago, but when dry season comes in, fire occurred there with smoke and haze spread up to neighboring countries, caused us with huge economic losses," she said here on Tuesday.

She, however, said that DiCaprio's initiatives were highly appreciated and conveyed expectation for further cooperation with the actor related to forest and environmental issues in the future.

Leonardo DiCaprio won 2016 Oscar for Best Actor through an environment-themed film, the Revenant. DiCaprio established a foundation that works on environmental issue since 1998.

In the recent global economy forum in Davos, Switzerland, DiCaprio pledged to provide 15 million U.S Dollars of assistance fund for global environmental protection efforts. Enditem