Indonesia sees sharp decline in deforestation last year
Deforestation in Indonesia was brought down by 75 percent last year thanks to more effective control of forest fires and limitation of woodland clearance, the Ministry of Environment and Forestry has said.
A forest fire in Kampar regency of Indonesia's Riau province on October 6, 2019 (Photo: Xinhua/VNA)
Hanoi (VNA) – Deforestation inIndonesia was brought down by 75 percent last year thanks to more effectivecontrol of forest fires and limitation of woodland clearance, the Ministry ofEnvironment and Forestry has said.
Ruandha Agung Sugardiman, a senior official atthe ministry, told reporters on March 3 that deforestation in 2020 wasestimated at around 115,500 hectares, down from around 462,500 hectares in theprevious year.
Various efforts undertaken by the ministry havebrought a significant result, he said, citing policies such as a moratorium onprimary forest clearing and improved forest fire management, including cloudseeding.
Indonesia is prone to annual forest fires whichthe government said are often started intentionally by farmers as a cheapland-clearance method even though flames can spread uncontrollably,particularly during the dry season.
According to the World Bank, fires in 2019caused damage and economic losses amounting to at least 5.2 billion USD, equalto 0.5 percent of Indonesia's gross domestic product (GDP).
Indonesia has the world’s third largestrainforest area. Deforestation control is part of its commitments in the globalParis Agreement on climate change. The country’s government aims to limitdeforestation to between 325,000 and 450,000 hectares per year to avoid anyserious dent to economic development./.
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A forest fire in Kampar regency of Indonesia's Riau province on October 6, 2019 (Photo: Xinhua/VNA) 
