This new report provides a comprehensive, map-based analysis of the scale and pace of change affecting Indonesia's forests and identifies the forces and actors that are driving deforestation. Forest Watch Indonesia and Global Forest Watch have compiled the best available official data and reports from environmentalists in the field to address the following questions: How much of Indonesia's forest cover is left, and how much has been lost over the past 50 years? What is the condition of remaining forest cover today? What are the major driving forces behind deforestation, and who are the principal actors? Given current political and economic conditions in Indonesia, what are the prospects for forest policy reform?
The report's findings do not provide grounds for much optimism, despite clear signs of change in Indonesia. The major bilateral and multilateral donors are now working actively with the Indonesian Government to develop a strategy and action plan for reform. The Indonesian Ministry of Forestry is committed to implementing specific actions at the national level and has recently endorsed a wide-ranging regional plan to combat illegal logging. Yet, even if current policy reforms are successful, it is clear that Indonesia is in transition from being a forest-rich country to a forest-poor country, following the path of the Philippines and Thailand.
