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RaeAnne Smith

TSEA

Sheridan: Period 4

23 May 2011

The Hunt for Wood

Indonesia is an oceanic country located in South East Asia. Indonesia, being one of the

most populated countries in the world, it requires a steady economy, which is largely dependent

on its exportation of timber, pulp and various other natural resources. The demand for these

resources requires the destruction of millions of hectares (ha) of forests. The worldwide demand

for timber brings high prices in the international market which has helped Indonesia's

international trade flourish ("Background information…"). This industry cannot be met at a

sustainable level, as the rate of deforestation increases with every year ("Indonesia aims…"). As

Indonesia continues to cut down its forests, they are shrinking at a unsettling rate. Moreover,

with the burning of the trees, the carbon emissions of Indonesia are contributing to global

warming ("Indonesia pledges…"). Although Indonesia is one of the most environmentally

diverse countries in the world, deforestation is leading the extinction of many animal and plant

species that only live in Indonesia. In response to this, the government has passed many laws to

prevent further destruction of its forests. Indonesia has also made agreements with other nations,

who pledge to give the country money in return for the reduction of their carbon emissions. The

government is also working with many environmental groups to stop its growing deforestation

issue. Despite this, the government does not strictly uphold these laws and deforestation

continues, and many experts would agree, they are making unrealistic goals for the future

(Padden). Furthermore, many animal species inhabit these forests and only thrive in the ones

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specific to Indonesia. With the decreasing forests, these animals are becoming endangered and

could possibly bring them to extinction. Although the deforestation of Indonesia provides some

economic benefit to the country, it has more negative economic, political and environmental

impacts.

A positive aspect of Indonesia's deforestation is that it increases the revenue of the

country. The demand for timber is very high worldwide. Since this demand is so high, the price

of timber is also very high, which is beneficial to the Indonesian economy. In the 1970s

Indonesia began to develop its wood-processing industries to use its valuable resource of timber

to improve the economy of the country ("Background information…"). The government has

given permission to favored companies to convert 16 million ha of forest to conversion to timber

or other agricultural plantations (Stolle). Additionally, much of the deforestation of Indonesia is

a result of the palm oil plantations. In 2008, the estimated GDP of Indonesia was about 510.5

billion dollars with an increase of about five percent per year as a result of the growing

importance of industries in Indonesia. ("The Economic Benefit…" and World Bank). Many of

the industries contributing to the growth of the economy are from palm oil and the exportation of

timber. Overall, the great majority of Indonesia's economic growth and success is due to its

forest-related exports.

Although Indonesia is currently benefitting economically from deforestation, this demand

cannot be maintained at a sustainable level. The total amount of forest cover in Indonesia is

about 88 million ha. The rate at which deforestation is occurring is increasing. In the 1980s,

about one million ha per year were cleared and in the 1990s this number rose to about 1.7 million

ha. In 1996, this number increased to about 2 million ha (Stolle). If about 2 million ha per year of

forest is cut down and the total amount of forest in Indonesia is only 88 million ha, the forests

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would only be able to provide timber for about 40 years (Butler). Illegal logging is also a great

contributor to deforestation and is adding to the instability of the forests. "Illegal logging has

reached epidemic proportions as a result of Indonesia's chronic structural imbalance between

legal wood supply and demand" (Stolle). Along with illegal logging, legal logging also is not

conducted at a sustainable level. In 1995 there were 17 million ha of legal timber production

forests but in only 5 years there were under 8 million ha left. Given the rate at which

deforestation is occurring, it is likely that the forests will be completely gone in only years. If

this happens, not only will the forests be gone, but Indonesia will have lost its most important

source of economic gain.

As the Indonesian government has realized that deforestation has become such a huge

issue, it has begun to pass many laws to restrict deforestation. Some of the laws passed to

prevent deforestation include, a sentence of life in prison or death for anyone who finances

illegal logging, 10 years in prison for anyone who assists illegal logging, 3-10 years in prison for

anyone transporting illegal timber and 5-15 years of imprisonment for holding or handling illegal

timber ("Special Regulation…"). Along with the passage of these laws, Indonesia has also

become involved with many groups that work against deforestation. Indonesian President Susilo

Bambang Yudhoyono announced that he would willingly reduce Indonesia's carbon emissions by

42 percent by the year 2020, and in exchange, through REDD, Norway would pay them one

billion dollars to help preserve the forests. In addition, Indonesia has also promised to create a

two- year moratorium of the clearing of the forests ("Indonesia aims…"). Agus Purnomo from

the National Council on Climate Change stated that: "if there are other economic activities which

will be created by this financial assistance, then the local communities, the local companies and

the local governments will be able to continue their economic development activities without

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damaging the forests" (Indonesia aims…"). With the money that is being paid to Indonesia by

Norway, the need for deforestation will cease, as the money will bring about new businesses and

provide financial aid. Since the fall of President Suharto, access to official information

concerning deforestation has improved (Stolle). Moreover, "Indonesia was one of the first

countries to sign the Convention on Biological Diversity and to prepare a National Biodiversity

Strategy and Action Plan" ("Background information…"). Since the people of Indonesia have

become more aware of the seriousness of the situation of deforestation, they have been taking

increased action to prevent this growing issue.

Despite the fact that the government is taking many steps towards limiting deforestation,

they are not strictly enforcing the laws put in place. Agus Purnomo of the Council on Climate

Change says that "If you are living in area where there are no other economic activities you are

bound to cut the trees" ("Indonesia aims…"). Even if the government passes laws to prevent

illegal logging people will continue to illegally log the forests, if they have no other means of

economic gain. An issue in agreeing to make significant reforms quickly, is that governments are

sometimes hesitant to take action to prevent it because they are expensive to develop or they

conflict with land right issues" (Butler). The ban of deforestation was supposed to be put in place

in January of 2011, but is currently not because the Indonesian government is struggling to figure

out ways to make environmental gains without hurting the economy (Padden). The process of

reducing deforestation is not a simple process but will be extremely difficult, "It will require […]

determining who controls what rights to land; tackling corruption; redirecting misplaced

incentives that drive deforestation…" (Butler). Many experts agree that the terms made by

Indonesia are unrealistic. Yuyun Idradi, Green Peace campaigner states that the ban will only

cover the new land permits and exempt the old ones. He also says that the majority of the areas

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that are meant to be put under the ban are already protected and that putting a new ban on them

will have no effect. Climate Change Group member Robert Daniel states that "Very little forest

will be protected as a result of the moratorium" (Padden). Overall, the results of the moratorium

will not be seen immediately as the process will be long and hard. This is a result of the

government's inability to enforce their laws and cooperate to significantly reduce deforestation

and carbon emissions.

Finally, the deforestation of Indonesia has led to the loss of one of the most

environmentally diverse forests in the world, killing many native plant and animal species as

well as emitting carbon into the atmosphere and contributing to global climate change. Once the

forests of Indonesia are cut down, the rotting trees release carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.

Additionally, the burning of the forests results in the release of carbon as well. In total this adds

up to about 20% of greenhouse gases from humans (“Indonesia pledges…”). Over the years, as a

result of deforestation, the forest cover is now less than half of its original amount. Fires burn

down the forests regularly and the resulting air pollution causes health issues that are evident

even in other countries. After China and the United States, Indonesia is now the world’s third

largest emitter of greenhouse gases (Butler). Furthermore, the deforestation of Indonesia is

destroying the habitats of many species of animals. This has pushed these species to the brink of

extinction. Some examples of animals that are highly endangered in Indonesia include elephants

and tigers. “In the past 25 years, elephant populations in Riau fell 84 percent to only 210

animals, while tiger populations were estimated to have tumbled by 70 percent to perhaps just

192 individuals…” (Reuters). Another animal that is highly endangered as a result of the

deforestation of Indonesia is the orangutan. “Estimates are that as many as 2000 orangutans, out

of a population of only 50,000 to 60,000 animals, are lost every year” (Smith). In an area of

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Indonesia known as the Tripa Swamps which are located on the west side of Aceh, the forest

cover fell by 37,000 ha in a period of four years, from 1993 and 1997. As a result, about 62

percent of the orangutan population in this area declined from 1,350 to only 510 individuals

("The oil for ape…"). This clearly illustrates how deforestation is leading to the extinction of the

animals living in this habitat. The issue of endangered animals in Indonesia is quickly rising.

Many of these species are native only to Indonesia and will not be able to survive in other

countries. If deforestation cannot be stopped, then many of these species will go extinct in the

future.

Although deforestation of Indonesia has increased the revenue of the country, it cannot be

conducted at a sustainable level. As the government becomes aware of this issue, they pass many

laws to restrict deforestation but do not enforce them effectively. Ultimately, the deforestation of

Indonesia is leading to increased carbon emissions into the atmosphere, contributing to overall

climate change, and is leading to the loss of many of the animals and plants native to Indonesia.

The deforestation of Indonesia is a serious world issue. The government is not effectively

enforcing the laws put into place to prevent it and they are not making realistic goals for future

reduction of deforestation. This ineffectiveness is leading to the extinction of many animals, such

as orangutans, elephants and tigers, which are native only to Indonesia and it is contributing to

global warming and climate change.

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Works Cited

"Background information on Indonesia, deforestation and illegal logging." Abc.net.au. Four

Corners. 2002. Web. 19 Mar. 2011.

Butler, Rhett. "Indonesia's Corruption Legacy Clouds a Forest Protection Plan." Yale.edu. Global

Forest Watch. 27 Dec. 2010. Web. 19 Mar. 2011.

Friends of the Earth, et al. "The Oil For Ape Scandal: How Palm Oil Is Threatening Orang-Utan

Survival." Sep. 2005. Print.

"Indonesia aims to halt deforestation." CNN News. CNN. 27 Nov. 2010. Web. 7 Mar. 2011.

"Indonesia pledges two-year deforestation moratorium." BBC News. BBC. 27 May 2010. Web. 7

Mar. 2011.

Padden, Brian. "Indonesia's Deforestation Moratorium Still On Hold." VoANews.com. Voice of

America. 14 Apr. 2011. Web. 20 May 2011.

Reuters. "Indonesian Deforestation Threatens Elephants: WWT." Enn.com. ENN: Environmental

News Network. 27 Feb. 2008. Web. 10 Mar. 2011.

Smith, Dawn. "Indonesia's Endangered Orangutan: Palm Oil And Pet Trade Threaten World's

Only Arboreal Great Ape." Thekindnessclinic.com. Wildlife Preservation. 7 Nov. 2007.

Web. 13 Mar. 2011.

"Special Regulation Pending A Law (Perpu) On Illegal Logging - (Draft)." Dte.gn.apc.org. DTE.

1 Jul. 2004. Web. 10 Mar. 2011.

Stolle, Fred. "Indonesia's Forests in Brief." Globalforestwatch.org. Global Forest Watch. n.d.

Web. 19 Mar. 2011.

"World Development Indicators." Data.worldbank.org. The World Bank. n.d. Web. 21 May.

2011.

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World Growth. "The Economic Benefit Of Palm Oil To Indonesia." World Growth: Palm Oil

Green Development Campaign. Feb. 2011. Web. 21 Mar. 2011.