Forest Loss in Indonesia Rises Sharp as Self‑Sufficiency Drives Push Land Clearing

Indonesia’s forests shrank by a striking 66% in 2025, the fastest rate in eight years, according to data from satellite imagery and field checks across 16 provinces. The country’s huge forest area, once one of the world’s richest in biodiversity, is being cleared at an alarming pace as it pursues ambitious goals for food and energy independence. The main driver is a government plan to cut import dependence by boosting domestic crop production, especially rice. Officials earmarked 20. 6 million hectares of forest for projects linked to food, energy and water security in 2025; almost half of that land was natural forest. Over 78, 000 hectares—roughly the size of New York City—were cleared last year to create new rice fields, even on peatlands that are unsuitable for agriculture. The same policy is pushing large swaths of forest into bioenergy production, with tens of thousands of hectares converted to industrial plantations that feed power plants.

In addition, mining expansion is contributing to the loss. About 41, 000 hectares of forest were turned into concessions for coal, gold and nickel extraction, while nearly 38, 000 hectares fell to palm oil development. These moves mirror earlier policies that weakened environmental safeguards under previous administrations. The impact is uneven across the archipelago. Borneo experienced the steepest decline, followed by Sumatra and Papua. East Kalimantan, home to Indonesia’s planned new capital, saw the largest provincial loss. In Sumatra, three provinces that suffered floods and landslides last year also recorded dramatic spikes in deforestation: Aceh rose by 426%, North Sumatra by 281% and West Sumatra by more than a thousand percent compared to 2024. Experts argue that stronger regulation is needed to protect remaining natural forests and to expand conservation areas beyond protected estates. They warn that the upcoming dry season, exacerbated by El Niño, could trigger widespread fires, further threatening remaining woodland. The Forestry Ministry and the president’s office have not yet responded to requests for comment. The sharp rise in forest loss signals a pressing need for policy change before the environmental damage becomes irreversible.

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