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Indonesia Forest Loss Hits Record High in Eight Years, Threatening Climate and Biodiversity
Indonesia's Forest Loss Accelerates at an Unprecedented Rate
Indonesia's forest loss surged by an alarming 66% in 2025, reaching its highest rate in eight years. This rapid deforestation is attributed to weak environmental protections and the government's ambitious food and energy self-sufficiency drive. The archipelago nation, comprised of thousands of islands, boasts some of the world's thickest forests and most biodiverse regions. However, this trend is expected to have severe consequences for the climate and biodiversity of these areas.
Environmental Degradation Driven by Mining and Agricultural Expansion
Indonesia heavily relies on mining and farm plantations to support its $1.4 trillion economy, the largest in Southeast Asia, but at a significant environmental cost. A think tank, focusing on forestry and biodiversity in Indonesia, analyzed 49,000 hectares of forest across 16 provinces using high-quality satellite imagery and on-the-ground visits. Their findings identified President Prabowo Subianto's food security program as one of the main contributing factors. This program aims to boost domestic output of key agricultural products like rice and reduce Indonesia's dependence on imports.
The government allocated 20.6 million hectares of forested areas for food, energy, and water-related programs in 2025, with 43% being natural forest. Last year alone, over 78,000 hectares of food reserve forests were cleared, an area the size of New York City. Among Indonesia's islands, Borneo saw the fastest forest shrinkage, followed by Sumatra and Papua. East Kalimantan, the location of Indonesia's planned new capital, was the hardest-hit province. Three Sumatran provinces affected by floods and landslides last year showed dramatic increases in deforestation, with West Sumatra's deforestation rising by 1,034% compared to 2024.
*Source: YouTube: WION (2026-04-01)*
