In the midst of rapid development and national food security programs, forests are often positioned in a dilemma. Either they become the foundation of future food reserves or they are sacrificed in the name of development. Detta Rahmawan, S.I.Kom., M.A., a lecturer at the Faculty of Communication Sciences, Universitas Padjadjaran who is also a media industry expert in the environmental field, emphasized the importance of maintaining a balance between food interests and forest conservation.
“The idea of food security is good and certainly needs to be supported. But it should not be at the expense of forests and indigenous people who are often the ones who protect forests,” he said.
According to Detta, the media has a strategic role in shaping public perception of environmental issues. But unfortunately, the framing presented by the media is often not enough to voice the most affected groups. “What is actually needed is the voice of the affected parties. In particular, what still needs to be encouraged is the opinion of people living in forest areas. Their voices are very minimal in the media compared to the food security program managers,” he said.
Detta regrets that news reports on deforestation and food sources often feature more government or corporate narratives, and give less space to the experiences of local people who live directly around the forest. In fact, they are the ones who understand the real environmental conditions, not through data alone.
In this context, Detta believes that media literacy is very important. He said that the public’s ability to sort and understand information can be a tool to fight news bias and disinformation that harms the environment.
“Media literacy is important so that more audiences or citizens are aware of the dangers of deforestation, and the real picture that is often not discussed by the government,” he explained.
When asked about the ideal communication strategy to build a fair and sustainable narrative, Detta emphasized the importance of involving local communities. According to him, they should not only be positioned as obstacles to development programs, but need to be involved as knowledge and interest holders.
“We must open up more space for local communities, affected communities, and not frame them as those who must ‘give in’ for the sake of ambitious government programs,” he said.
Detta also delivered a special message for the younger generation, especially Communication Science students. He invited them to actively dig for information, take sides with ecological justice, and get involved in spreading narratives that favor the environment and society.
“Seek more information, support the public journalism movement, and also help spread to the wider community about the importance of space to criticize government programs,” he said.
This year’s World Tree Day should not just be a ceremony, but a reflective momentum. To what extent have we really heard the voice of the forest and those who protect it? If forests continue to be cut down, it is not only the trees that are lost – but also our common future. [Ed]