Indonesia is now leading the world in reducing deforestation rates, according to statistics from the World Resources Institute (WRI). Its most recent data on global deforestation shows that Indonesia has reduced  deforestation rate in primary forests by 65% since 2015, which is more than any other country over the same period.

The dramatic lowering of the deforestation rate is a result of years of commitment by two successive Indonesian governments and the plantation sector, who have implemented policies to reduce deforestation across the country.

Ingredients linked to deforestation 
The news comes at the heels that several F&B sectors are intrinsically linked to deforestation next to cocoa, including soy, palm oil and wood fiber for packaging. In recent years, the industry has been ramping up efforts to combat the crisis as consumers become increasingly concerned over food products – primarily confectionery and snacks – linked to forests being burned down to make way for specific crops. 

Meanwhile, landmark efforts over the last year have included the EU’s introduction of a law cracking down on deforestation, alongside major commitments by major players to halt deforestation by 2030. 

Indonesia clamps down on deforestation 
According to the WRI, the result from the report is a “strong endorsement” of these policy decisions taken by the Indonesian government on deforestation.

The WRI report states: “Government policies and corrective actions have contributed to this reduction, in line with reaching Indonesia’s target of Net Sink (meaning negative CO2 emissions) from the forestry and other land use sectors by 2030.”

Indonesia’s deforestation rates are the lowest on record.“Increased fire prevention and monitoring efforts, termination of granting new licenses on primary forest or peatland (moratorium), law enforcement and a renewed commitment not only to protect and restore peatlands but also to rehabilitate mangroves have led to fewer fires and fewer primary forest loss.

“Relatively wet conditions and cloud-seeding efforts from the government and private sector may have helped with fire suppression in Indonesia. On-the-ground community efforts to suppress fire have also contributed.”

“Mandatory and voluntary corporate commitments also appear to be working,” reads the report. 

Lowest deforestation rates on record 
The WRI also aligns with official government estimates on deforestation in the country, showing that Indonesia’s deforestation rates are the lowest on record.

President Yudhoyono introduced a moratorium on issuing new permits for logging in primary forests and peatlands in 2011. It was set for two years but was extended twice under his administration. It restricted new oil palm plantation development and logging in specified forest areas.

President Jokowi continued and extended the moratorium and further strengthened enforcement and compliance. In 2019, the moratorium on new licenses in primary forests and peatlands was made permanent.

Jokowi also introduced a three-year moratorium on new oil palm plantation permits, halted new permits for plantations, and commenced a review of existing licenses.

In addition to these measures, the Jokowi administration introduced the Rencana Aksi Nasional Kelapa Sawit Berkelanjutan (RAN-KSB) or National Action Plan for Sustainable Palm Oil. Its chief objectives are to strengthen regulation and enforcement to prevent illegal deforestation and protect primary forests and peatlands.

Asia and beyond
The WRI states that many countries, such as Brazil or Bolivia, should be “learning lessons” from Indonesia regarding forest governance and policy reform. This should extend to Western nations seeking to assist other developing continue reducing deforestation. 

They also outline that a core lesson of the WRI data, and the success of Indonesia, is that local leadership and local knowledge are key to success. A lesson for European governments and NGOs when dealing with Southeast Asia: support the local initiatives and don’t assume you know better, they state.

The WRI data will contribute to implementing the EU Anti-Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), specifically Indonesia’s risk classification. It adds to the case that Indonesia is not a “high-risk” country for deforestation.

The first Indonesia, Malaysia and EU Task Force on the EUDR has been announced for August. 

Last month, Food Ingredients First reported that the EU’s incoming law to combat deforestation could fail to achieve the global impacts regulators expect unless the UN delivers a complementary framework to support it. 

Industry insiders warned that the European transparency rules could simply shift environmentally damaging activities from monitored to unmonitored regions if demand for forest-based products persists.