Leonardo DiCaprio Won’t Be 'Blacklisted’ From Indonesia

Dr Siti Nurbaya Bakar, Indonesia’s Minister of the Environment and Forestry, has responded to reports that Leonardo DiCaprio could be blacklisted from the country after he voiced concerns about their palm oil plantations.

The Oscar winner recently visited the Sumatran rainforests and wrote about how Palm Oil cultivation is impacting the environment.

Copyright [Aflo/REX/Shutterstock]

In an Instagram post, he wrote: “As the forest of the #Indonesian #LeuserEcosystem continues to be cleared to meet demand for Palm Oil, the critically endangered Sumatran #orangutan is being pushed to the brink of extinction.

“Here, at the Sumatran Orangutan Conservation Programme’s Orangutan Quarantine Center, rescued orangutans are rehabilitated so they can be released back into the wild.

“If we don’t stop this rampant destruction, the Leuser Ecosystem and the Sumatran orangutans that call it home could be lost forever. Click the link in the bio to support this important work. #Indonesia”.

Copyright [Instagram/Leonardo DiCaprio]

At the weekend, Associated Press reported that Heru Santoso, the spokesman for the Directorate General for Immigration at the Law and Human Rights Ministry, had responded, saying: “We support his concern to save the Leuser ecosystem.

“But we can blacklist him from returning to Indonesia at any time if he keeps posting incitement or provocative statements in his social media.”

However, Dr Siti Nurbaya Bakar has now denied these claims, saying Leonardo’s concerns are sincere and substantial.

Copyright [Instagram/Leonardo DiCaprio]

The minister told foresthints.news: “My view is that DiCaprio’s concerns are both sincere and substantial, and he has certainly acted in good faith. In fact, we largely share his concerns on this matter.

“In light of this and to reciprocate his sincerity and good intentions, I am open to working together with DiCaprio in a joint effort whereby both of us can have our concerns addressed, including those that pertain to the Leuser Ecosystem.”