Nestled between a village and the sprawling forest, Haruna and his father-in-law were hard at work under the night sky, carefully distilling dried patchouli plants. The faint aroma filled the air as the firewood-fed boiler produced drops of fragrant patchouli oil, which slowly collected in plastic bottles. A hefty container of thick, rich brown oil was the tangible reward of their precision and effort, symbolizing high-quality patchouli.
Haruna, aged 42, is a dedicated patchouli farmer living in Simboro, located in the western part of Sulawesi. After several weeks of anticipation, he and his father-in-law finally accessed a modest steam distillation facility located an hour away from their farm. In recent years, the demand for patchouli oil has surged, drawing many farmers in the area into its cultivation. However, this boom is also contributing to adverse environmental impacts, such as deforestation and increased landslide risks as vast rainforests are being cleared for these farms.
Patchouli oil, with its deep, earthy scent, is obtained from the leaves of the Pogostemon cablin plant, a type of mint native to Southeast Asia, predominantly Indonesia. This oil is celebrated for its calming properties, aiding in stress and anxiety relief and is a staple in luxury perfumes, cosmetics, and wellness products. The latest spike in patchouli oil’s popularity can be accredited to trends on social media.
Indonesia’s tropical climate is ideal for patchouli growth, supplying over 80% of the global market. Farmers can sell each kilogram for as much as 2.4 million rupiah ($147).
As the world’s third-largest rainforest encompassing endangered species and plants, Indonesia is experiencing a noticeable shift in its landscape due to the patchouli industry. Since the early 2000s, Sulawesi has been integral to this sector, its significance soaring in Mamuju City recently. The scene is hard to miss—dried plants are draped over porches, and the fragrant herb sits abundantly by the roadsides.
Yet, deeper in the woods, swathes of land are being cleared, ready to host young patchouli seedlings housed in thousands of plastic cups. While the local government encourages patchouli cultivation for economic growth, West Sulawesi’s Environment and Forestry Agency warns about the environmental risks, particularly the threat of landslides due to destabilization of cleared, hilly areas.
Zulkifli Manggazali, head of West Sulawesi’s Environment and Forestry Agency, shares concerns about soil erosion and landslides when patchouli is planted on steep slopes exceeding a 45-degree angle. This cultivation practice exacerbates the clearing of rainforests and increases the demand for firewood used in distillation, thus contributing to the cycle of deforestation.
Areas around Sulawesi have started experiencing landslides where forests were cut down for patchouli farms. A tragic incident in Mamuju in January resulted in a family perishing in a landslide, where nearby patchouli cultivation played a role, compounding the natural instability of the terrain.
Patchouli farming might provide temporary financial solutions for farmers like Hardi, a 36-year-old who has recently shifted from growing cloves, but the environmental cost is immense. Hardi’s plantation, located on a challenging steep hillside, offers a lucrative source of income through the aromatic oil, yet demands constant clearing of new land every few cycles—sustaining further deforestation.
Hardi’s oil eventually reaches the global market through distillation owners, selling it for approximately 1,400,000 rupiah ($86) per kilogram. However, as emphasized by Manggazali, the looming possibility of environmental repercussions like landslides could impose severe costs on local communities, overshadowing potential profits.
To counter the escalating deforestation for patchouli, Manggazali suggests diversifying Sulawesi’s agricultural products for more sustainable developments. Implementing the cultivation of economically valuable trees like durian could offer long-term benefits for both the environment and local incomes.
Through sustainable practices and strategic crop choices, there is potential to preserve Indonesia’s rich ecological heritage while maintaining agricultural livelihoods for future generations.