Environment and Forestry Ministry Decree No. 39/2017 allows local communities in Java to cultivate forest areas that are managed by state-owned forest company Perhutani, which has sparked controversy. 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 allocate...

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