PUBLIKASI

The Madani Insight report (April 2021) noted that Indonesia's net deforestation rate in 2019-2020 experienced the largest decline in history, at 75% compared to the previous period. However, this drastic decline was largely due to a 99% reduction in gross deforestation in plantation forests, while gross deforestation in natural forests only decreased by 38%. At the regional level, West Kalimantan was the province with the highest rate of natural forest deforestation nationally. Ironically, this loss of secondary natural forest area was not offset by comparable reforestation, and deforestation was also found to continue in areas that should be protected or deforestation-free, such as Protected Forests, Conservation Areas, peat ecosystems, and areas designated as Indicative Maps for the Halt to New Permits (PIPPIB).

From a climate commitment perspective, the success in reducing natural forest deforestation during this period places Indonesia below the maximum annual deforestation limit set in its Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC). However, significant challenges still loom over the long-term targets, particularly following the enactment of the Job Creation Law, which facilitates the release of Permanent Production Forest areas for various non-forestry purposes and national strategic projects. The document also emphasizes that to align with ambitious climate targets towards the Paris Agreement, Indonesia must not only reduce the rate of natural forest deforestation to below 71,000 hectares per year over the next three decades, but also accelerate the implementation of peatland restoration, resolve licensing issues in PIPPIB areas, and expand the granting of social forestry permits to local indigenous communities.