Critics argue that the decree would only exacerbate deforestation. Although this decree does not give the community land tenure merely permits to utilize forest areas, forest products and forest environmental services, such as water, carbon sequestration and tourism, no one can ensure that within 35 years of the concession, permit holders will abide by the regulation.

When the permit ends, the forest areas would have likely turned into agricultural land and settlements. Actually, the ministry had already given similar permits to communities living around forests, such as the Community Forest permit. But so far, the necessary procedures have not been easy, and most of the land allocated is not under Perhutani’s purview.

In general, despite many drawbacks, forest management in Java by Perhutani is much better than that outside of Java, and Perhutani has also conducted some forms of social forestry initiatives.

Many forest concession companies outside of Java have failed to manage their concession areas properly, so their licenses have not been renewed.

As a result, these areas are not protected and become vulnerable to encroachment by irresponsible parties.

Regardless of the controversy surrounding the above decree, much of Indonesia’s forest areas are continuously under threat from legal and illegal activities. Even conservation forest areas — which are the most protected — are not free from encroachment, although they are in much better condition than production forests and protection forest areas.

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