Indonesia had a 27% increase in primary forest loss in 2023 from the previous year, according to the World Resources Institute (WRI). However, WRI sees the loss still as historically low compared to the 2010s.
“Deforestation has been declining from six or so years ago when there were peak rates,” said Rod Taylor, global director of the forests program at WRI. “It’s good news and commendable for Indonesia.”
But others saw cause for concern in the uptick and tied some of the more recent deforestation to the world’s appetite for mining Indonesia’s vast nickel deposits, which is critical for the green energy transition.
Indonesia is home to the world’s third-largest rainforest, with endangered wildlife and plants, including orangutans, elephants, and giant forest flowers. Since 1950, more than 74 million hectares (285,715 square miles) of Indonesian rainforest — twice the size of Germany — have been logged, burned, or degraded for the development of palm oil, paper and rubber plantations, nickel mining, and other commodities, according to Global Forest Watch.
Indonesia is the biggest producer of palm oil, one of the largest exporters of coal, and a top producer of pulp for paper. It also exports oil and gas, rubber, tin, and other resources.
Read the full article HERE.
