In March 2021, the Indonesian government released Indonesia’s latest deforestation figures (2019-2020) and announced the largest reduction in deforestation in history by 75%. The reduction in deforestation received international applause because it portrays a positive trend amid the increasing rate of forests losses globally.
This April edition of Madani Insight aims to increase public understanding of Indonesia’s recently announced deforestation figures and its meaning for the achievement of Indonesia’s climate commitment (NDC) and the Paris Agreement targets to keep the Earth’s temperature rise at 1.5 degrees Celsius.
This paper is divided into three parts. The first part examines Indonesia’s deforestation figures and where deforestation has occurred the most, including within the permitted or concession areas. The second part examines the extent of Indonesia’s natural forests that have not been protected and are therefore vulnerable to deforestation. The third part examines the meaning of Indonesia’s declining deforestation from the perspective of achieving both the climate commitments and target of the Paris Agreement.
DEFINITIONS
In order to understand the meaning of Indonesia’s deforestation figures, it is crucial to understand various definitions of deforestation used by the Government of Indonesia as described below.
This paper will focus on gross deforestation or deforestation of natural forests which are crucial for maintaining global climate stability, preserving biodiversity, and most relevant to efforts to achieve Indonesia’s climate commitments.