
Indonesia Deforestation Rises Again in 2022 Deforestation in Indonesia grew again last year, a local environmental NGO said Friday based on satellite image analysis and fieldwork. Indonesia has one of the world's highest rates of deforestation, with key drivers including timber plantations, palm oil cultivation, and, increasingly, the mining of critical minerals. Its rainforests are some of the world's most biodiverse and provide critical habitats for threatened and endangered species and are key carbon sinks. The report from NGO Auriga Nusantara said 261,575 hectares of primary and secondary forests across Indonesia were lost in 2022, over four thousand more than the previous year. It is the third year running that deforestation has increased, the group said, with the vast majority of losses taking place in areas opened for development by the government. "It is worrying, as it shows the increase of legal deforestation," said Auriga Nusantara's chairman Timer Manurung. He called for "urgent" protection of forest in Kalimantan, where the highest losses were recorded as the country's new capital was built, and in Sulawesi. The report comes as Indonesian environmentalists raise alarm over government plans to convert millions of hectares of forests for food and energy use. President Prabowo Subianto, who assumed office in October, has pledged to boost food and energy self-sufficiency, including by expanding bio-based fuels to lower fuel imports. Environmental groups warn the plans would spell disaster for the country's forests. "We ask President Prabowo to issue a presidential regulation to protect all remaining natural forest," Timer told AFP. The report is based on satellite imagery that was analyzed to confirm deforestation and followed up with field visits to areas representing tens of thousands of hectares of forest loss, Auriga Nusantara said.
Indonesia Deforestation Rises Again in 2022 Deforestation in Indonesia grew again last year, a local environmental NGO said Friday based on satellite image analysis and fieldwork. Indonesia has one of the world's highest rates of deforestation, with key drivers including timber plantations, palm oil cultivation, and, increasingly, the mining of critical minerals. Its rainforests are some of the world's most biodiverse and provide critical habitats for threatened and endangered species and are key carbon sinks. The report from NGO Auriga Nusantara said 261,575 hectares of primary and secondary forests across Indonesia were lost in 2022, over four thousand more than the previous year. It is the third year running that deforestation has increased, the group said, with the vast majority of losses taking place in areas opened for development by the government. "It is worrying, as it shows the increase of legal deforestation," said Auriga Nusantara's chairman Timer Manurung. He called for "urgent" protection of forest in Kalimantan, where the highest losses were recorded as the country's new capital was built, and in Sulawesi. The report comes as Indonesian environmentalists raise alarm over government plans to convert millions of hectares of forests for food and energy use. President Prabowo Subianto, who assumed office in October, has pledged to boost food and energy self-sufficiency, including by expanding bio-based fuels to lower fuel imports. Environmental groups warn the plans would spell disaster for the country's forests. "We ask President Prabowo to issue a presidential regulation to protect all remaining natural forest," Timer told AFP. The report is based on satellite imagery that was analyzed to confirm deforestation and followed up with field visits to areas representing tens of thousands of hectares of forest loss, Auriga Nusantara said.
Indonesia Deforestation Rises Again in 2022
Deforestation in Indonesia grew again last year, a local environmental NGO said Friday based on satellite image analysis and fieldwork.
Indonesia has one of the world's highest rates of deforestation, with key drivers including timber plantations, palm oil cultivation, and, increasingly, the mining of critical minerals.
Its rainforests are some of the world's most biodiverse and provide critical habitats for threatened and endangered species and are key carbon sinks.
The report from NGO Auriga Nusantara said 261,575 hectares of primary and secondary forests across Indonesia were lost in 2022, over four thousand more than the previous year.
It is the third year running that deforestation has increased, the group said, with the vast majority of losses taking place in areas opened for development by the government.
It is worrying, as it shows the increase of legal deforestation, said Auriga Nusantara's chairman Timer Manurung.
He called for urgent protection of forest in Kalimantan, where the highest losses were recorded as the country's new capital was built, and in Sulawesi.
The report comes as Indonesian environmentalists raise alarm over government plans to convert millions of hectares of forests for food and energy use.
President Prabowo Subianto, who assumed office in October, has pledged to boost food and energy self-sufficiency, including by expanding bio-based fuels to lower fuel imports.
Environmental groups warn the plans would spell disaster for the country's forests.
We ask President Prabowo to issue a presidential regulation to protect all remaining natural forest, Timer told AFP.
The report is based on satellite imagery that was analyzed to confirm deforestation and followed up with field visits to areas representing tens of thousands of hectares of forest loss, Auriga Nusantara said.