The case of Bambang Hero Saharjo, a leading environmental scholar from IPB University, underscores the dangers of allowing vested interests to intimidate those who work to protect Indonesia’s natural heritage.

Bambang has long been a pillar of environmental advocacy in the country, providing expert testimony in hundreds of legal cases involving illegal land clearance and environmental damage.

His calculation of the damages caused by corruption in the tin mining industry, producing a figure of Rp 271 trillion (US$16.5 billion), have brought him under fire.

A police report filed by an organization in Bangka Belitung accuses him of going beyond his authority in estimating state losses. But the claim disregards the established legal framework, which not only recognizes but protects the role of experts such as Bambang in judicial proceedings.

This is not the first time the professor has faced retaliation. In 2018, palm oil companies targeted him with a multibillion dollar lawsuit after he exposed illegal burning practices.

These attempts to silence him are emblematic of a broader pattern in which environmental advocates and scientists are increasingly subject to legal harassment, strategic lawsuits and intimidation.

Such actions undermine the role of science and independent inquiry in addressing environmental issues.

Indonesia’s environmental challenges are vast. The nation continues to grapple with deforestation, pollution and biodiversity loss. At the same time, illegal practices such as land burning and unregulated mining pose threats not only to ecosystems but also to the lives and livelihoods of millions of citizens.

Addressing these challenges requires the active participation of experts, whose insights and research are critical for developing solutions.

When experts like Bambang are targeted, the broader scientific community is sent a clear message: Speaking out against environmental harm comes at a high personal and professional cost.

The consequences of this chilling effect extend far beyond individual cases. By discouraging scientists and advocates from exposing wrongdoing, Indonesia risks allowing environmental degradation to go unchecked.

This would have severe consequences for public health, economic stability and international commitments to combat climate change.

Moreover, such cases erode public trust in the country’s legal and governance systems, as they appear to serve corporate interests rather than the public good.

The government has a responsibility to reverse this trend. Upholding the protections afforded to expert witnesses under Indonesian law is a vital first step.

Article 58, Paragraph 2(e) of Law No. 18/2013 on the prevention and eradication of forest destruction explicitly safeguards the contributions of environmental experts in legal proceedings.

Authorities must also ensure that legal systems are not weaponized by powerful interests to stifle advocacy or suppress inconvenient truths.

Safeguarding environmental experts is not merely about protecting individuals; it is about ensuring the long-term sustainability of the nation. Without their expertise, Indonesia risks losing the battle against environmental degradation.

The suit against Bambang is a direct violation of international principles outlined in the United Nations Environment Program’s (UNEP) Environmental Defenders Policy and the Framework Principles on Human Rights and the Environment.

Allowing an expert witness to be targeted undermines these global standards, eroding the credibility of the nation’s commitment to environmental justice.

Such actions place Indonesia’s environmental governance in direct conflict with its international obligations, highlighting the urgent need for systemic reform to safeguard those who defend the nation’s ecological future.

As a nation rich in biodiversity and natural resources, Indonesia has much to gain by embracing transparency and accountability.

The government must reject attempts to criminalize Bambang and others like him, reinforcing their essential role in holding perpetrators of environmental harm accountable.

As a society, we must recognize that protecting environmental experts is protecting ourselves. Their work ensures that natural resources are managed sustainably, that polluters are held accountable and that future generations inherit a livable planet.

Indonesia’s future depends on it.