[Jakarta, March 11, 2021] The Madani Berkelanjutan Foundation welcomes the efforts of the Ministry of Environment and Forestry (KLHK) in reducing deforestation by 75% in the 2019-2020 period, as stated in its release on March 3, 2021. This decrease in deforestation is a good starting point for Indonesia to build the Indonesian economy without damaging forests and the environment. Indonesia should be able to maintain the reduction in deforestation going forward to become a reference for the success of other tropical forest countries. " Therefore, it is urgent for the government to ensure that all current development policies, from the National Economic Recovery (PEN), National Strategic Projects (PSN), to the Food and Energy Security Program - are in line and coherent with efforts to achieve climate commitments ," said Yosi Amelia, Project Officer for Forests and Climate of the Madani Berkelanjutan Foundation in response to the release of the Directorate General of Forestry Planning and Environmental Management, Ministry of Environment and Forestry (Ditjen PKTL KLHK) regarding deforestation.
" However, the largest decrease in deforestation actually occurred in plantation forest deforestation by 99%, so it was not the loss of natural forest. Meanwhile, primary forest deforestation decreased by 48%, namely from 23.9 thousand hectares in 2018-2019 to 12.3 thousand hectares in 2019-2020. Unfortunately, secondary forest deforestation did not decrease as much as primary forest, namely only 36% from 164 thousand hectares in 2018-2019 to 104.6 thousand hectares in 2019-2020. This shows that it is very urgent to increase protection of secondary natural forests, both those in concessions that are not yet protected by PIPPIB, one of which is through policy innovations including the implementation of REDD+ ," said Fadli Ahmad Naufal, GIS Specialist.
" If we only look at the loss of natural forests (gross deforestation of natural forests), it is true that there has been a decline in deforestation that deserves appreciation, but only by 38%, namely from 187.9 thousand hectares in 2018-2019 to 116.9 thousand hectares in 2019-2020. Based on Madani's initial analysis, there are around 9.4 million hectares of natural forest or almost the equivalent of 16 times the island of Bali outside of permits and concessions and PIAPS and PIPPIB areas that are not yet protected by the policy of stopping the issuance of new permits or forest moratoriums and are therefore vulnerable to deforestation ," added Fadli Ahmad Naufal.
On the other hand, the government has also successfully formulated policies that have the potential to increase the rate of deforestation in the coming years. Without tightened environmental safeguards, there are concerns that these various development programs could undermine Indonesia's climate and low-carbon development commitments and actually increase conflicts with indigenous and local communities.
In the near future, the potential for increased deforestation rates is indicated by the vast area of natural forest within the Food Estate Area of Interest (AOI) in four provinces (Papua, Central Kalimantan, North Sumatra, and South Sumatra). This natural forest area is approximately 1.5 million hectares, or nearly three times the size of Bali. Concerns about deforestation are well-founded given the substantial potential economic value of timber within this natural forest area, amounting to 209 trillion rupiah.
" Therefore, it is urgent for the government to strengthen protection of secondary natural forests, both those already under concession and those not yet protected by PIPPIB. One way to do this is through the implementation of REDD+ with strong environmental and social safeguards supported by data transparency ," Yosi said.
“ Madani will be at the forefront if the government is open to working together to implement actions to reduce deforestation ,” Yosi added.
Media Contact:
Yosi Amelia, Forest and Climate Project Officer, Madani Berkelanjutan Foundation, HP.0813 2217 1803
Luluk Uliyah, Senior Media Communication Officer, Madani Berkelanjutan Foundation, 0815 1986 8887
