The Move Towards a Forest Ownership Society

Indonesia has one of the highest rates of deforestation in the world. From 1990-2005, Indonesia had lost over 24% of its total forest cover with the rate of forest change from 2000 to 2005 increasing by 19%. Largely due to this fact it is also third in terms of greenhouse gas emissions, after China and the United States. Much of the deforestation is due to oil palm plantations, as well as paper and other wood products in some areas.

Challenges from deforestation over the past two decades have led the Indonesian government and it's stakeholders to refocus and prioritize forest policies. In order to find a more sustainable management and flood control program, the Ministry of Forestry developed a Master Plan that set five targets over five years (2004-2009). These plans focused on short, medium and long-term targets.

• Mitigation of illegal logging 
• Forest and land rehabilitation
• Forest industry revitalization
• Increase of forest community welfare

The latter goal of increasing forest community welfare may be the key to lessening the practice of forest conversion for agricultural and residential purposes. Society degrades the natural ecosystem because they do not provide direct, tangible benefits compared to those of logging, livestock or farming. However, when ecosystems are appreciated and the value recognized brings about forest use that manages and allows for regeneration. Government policy is beginning to look at incentives to change individual behaviors from ecosystem destruction to stewardship.

-Amy Hammes

References:

http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2010/02/20/lubuk-proposes-first-ever-forestvillage-status.html 

http://www.springerlink.com/content/h10r71400mg344wm/fulltext.pdf

http://rainforests.mongabay.com/deforestation/2000/Indonesia.htm