Deforestation in Indonesia rises 66%, hitting levels not seen in eight years, and much of this spike comes from the country pushing hard for food and energy self-sufficiency. In 2025 alone, they cleared more than 433,000 hectares of forest, which is a blow to one of the planet’s richest ecosystems. Environmental experts are raising the alarm, saying weakened regulations and major land conversion projects are driving forest loss faster than ever.

What Are the Major Causes of Increasing Deforestation in Indonesia?

• Expansion of food security: The government of Indonesia allocated 20.6 million hectares of forest lands for food, energy, and water programs in 2025, and the allocated lands include 43% natural forests. The government cleared more than 78,000 hectares of forest lands for food reserve forests, an area equivalent to New York City.
• Bioenergy and industrial forestry: The government of Indonesia cleared large areas of forest lands to be used in bioenergy production. This strategy was adopted to reduce dependence on fossil fuels.
• More information: The government of Indonesia plans to increase the proportion of renewable energy to 23% by 2025.
• Mining and plantation: The government of Indonesia cleared 41,162 hectares of forest lands for coal, gold, and nickel mines. Additionally, 37,910 hectares of forest lands were cleared for oil palm plantations, which significantly contribute to the $1.4 trillion economy.
• Lack of stringent environmental regulations: The government of Indonesia adopted the Job Creation Law, which critics argue weakens environmental regulations, thus promoting the exploitation of forest lands. The government of Indonesia reduced deforestation significantly between 2017 and 2020.

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Which Regions Are Most Affected, and How Severe Is the Impact?

• Borneo (Kalimantan) is the hardest hit: The island has experienced the quickest rate of forest loss, including East Kalimantan, where a new Indonesian capital city is currently in development.
• Rapid increase in forest loss in Sumatra: Deforestation has shown a dramatic increase in several provinces:

1. Aceh: +426%
2. North Sumatra: +281%
3. West Sumatra: +1,034%

• Papua is under threat: Previously undisturbed forests in Papua are experiencing increasing levels of encroachment due to resource exploitation and infrastructure development.
• Natural disaster linkages: There has been a direct association with increased forest loss and a greater risk of floods and landslides in these provinces.

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What Are the Long-Term Environmental Risks and Policy Implications?

Forests play an important role in Indonesia’s carbon-rich ecosystems, with billions of tonnes of carbon stored there and close to 10% of the world’s biodiversity supported by these forests. Rapidly occurring deforestation endangers the habitat of endangered species like the orangutan and disrupts the lives and livelihoods of indigenous people dependent upon the forest for survival.

As the nation strives to become economically self-sufficient, deforestation in Indonesia rises 66% since last year; as such, it will need to implement balanced policies to protect forests and promote economic growth. In doing so, Indonesia could face serious long-term consequences concerning environmental degradation and climate change if it does not take immediate corrective action.

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