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Deforestation climbed to 175,000 ha in 2024, ministry admits
A ministry official reported that the total gross deforestation for 2024 was 216,200 ha, offset by reforestation efforts covering 40,800 ha, resulting in a net loss of 175,400 ha.
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A deforested area of Kawei Island in Raja Ampat, Southwest Papua, is pictured on Dec. 21, 2024. (Handout AFP/Auriga Nusantara)
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ndonesia experienced a significant increase in deforestation in 2024, with approximately 175,400 hectares of forest cover lost, marking a rise of 54,300 ha from the previous year. This development interrupts a decade-long trend of declining deforestation rates, according to the Forestry Ministry.
Agus Budi Santosa, the ministry’s director for forest resource inventory and monitoring, disclosed the latest figures during a press conference in Jakarta on Monday.
He reported that the total gross deforestation for 2024 was 216,200 ha, offset by reforestation efforts covering 40,800 ha, resulting in a net loss of 175,400 ha.
“While the past two years have seen a slight uptick compared to data from previous years, they are still lower than the decade-long average deforestation trend,” Agus said, as quoted by news outlet Katadata.
The primary drivers of the increase include forest and land fires, which accounted for approximately 10 percent of deforestation, on top of illegal logging activities, bisnis.com reported. Agus emphasized the need for enhanced monitoring and enforcement to address these challenges.
During President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo’s administration, Indonesia implemented several measures to combat deforestation. In 2015, the government introduced a moratorium on new forest clearance for activities such as palm plantations and logging, which was made permanent in 2019.
The policy aims to protect primary forests and peatlands, Reuters reported. Additionally, the social forestry program was launched to grant communities legal access to manage 12.7 million ha of forests, promoting sustainable use and conservation, according to earth.org.
Despite these initiatives, recent data indicates a reversal in progress. In 2023, Indonesia experienced a 27 percent increase in primary forest loss compared to the previous year, affecting protected national parks and areas cleared for palm oil and paper plantations, as well as mining activities, according to an analysis by the World Resources Institute.
Furthermore, a report by NGO Auriga Nusantara found that 261,575 ha of primary and secondary forests were lost in 2024, marking the third consecutive year of rising deforestation rates, as noted by phys.org.
Environmental organizations have raised concerns about the resurgence of deforestation. A report by the Rainforest Action Network found that palm oil sourced from illegally cleared sections of the Rawa Singkil wildlife reserve might have entered the supply chains of major consumer brands, prompting companies like Nestlé and Procter & Gamble to investigate and suspend sourcing from implicated mills, Reuters reported.
The global demand for biomass energy has also contributed to deforestation pressures. Indonesian forests have been rapidly cleared to produce wood pellets for export to countries like South Korea and Japan.
Meanwhile, environmentalists have warned that weak regulations and oversight could exacerbate deforestation, threatening biodiversity and climate stability.
The Forestry Ministry has acknowledged these challenges and underscored the importance of collaborative efforts involving the government, local communities and international partners to implement sustainable forest management practices.
“Addressing deforestation requires a multifaceted approach, including stricter law enforcement, community engagement and sustainable land-use planning,” Agus said. (tjs)
