Indonesia, Malaysia to keep deforestation to near-record lows 
Tropical forest loss is accelerating, but Indonesia and Malaysia are leading the world for decelerating deforestation in the tropics.
Indonesia, Malaysia to keep deforestation to near-record lows 
New Sustainable Economics

Indonesia, Malaysia to keep deforestation to near-record lows 

Photo: iStock
Eurasia 05/07/2023 07:00

Tropical forest loss is accelerating, but Indonesia and Malaysia are leading the world for decelerating deforestation in the tropics, according to satellite data from Global Forest Watch.

Indonesia in particular, and Malaysia – the world’s two biggest palm oil-growing nations – have managed to keep rates of primary forest loss to near record-low levels, Eco-Business reported. 

Indonesia has seen deforestation fall by 64 per cent between the periods 2015-2017 and 2020-2022, the steepest drop of any tropical country. Over the same time frame, Malaysian deforestation has fallen by 57 per cent, the fourth steepest drop in the tropics. 

In 2022, Indonesia, which has the world’s third largest tropical forest area, lost 107,000 ha of primary forest, the smallest area cleared since 2002, while Malaysia lost around 70,000 ha, with its rate of deforestation flat year on year, they added.

iStock
Indonesia’s success in reducing deforestation has been attributed to tougher government policies on forest fire prevention and monitoring, peatland and mangrove rehabilitation, and climactic conditions – wet weather in recent years has helped minimise forest fires and primary forest loss, according to Eco-Business.

Corporate commitments have also played a role in curbing deforestation in Indonesia, as they have in Malaysia. No Deforestation, No Peat and No Exploitation (NDPE) commitments now cover the majority of the palm oil sector, while the pulp and paper industry – another major deforester – has also seen key pledges made to halt forest loss.

Malaysia and Indonesia have been using their recent track record in slowing deforestation as leverage to oppose the European Union’s newly introduced deforestation law (EUDR), arguing that because of their efforts to curtail forest loss, they should be allowed to access European supply chains, the site added.


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