| Summary: | Indonesia�s forest resources and watersheds are not contributing as they should to poverty
reduction, economic and social development, and environmental sustainability. Instead,
forest areas are threatened with degradation, fragmentation and destruction. A quarter of the
�state forest area� lacks tree cover. In recent years, Indonesia has been losing up to 2 million
hectares annually, mainly due to illegal cutting and land conversion fueled by excess processing
capacity and a lack of effective management and law enforcement. Forest loss undermines rural
livelihoods, ecosystem services and Indonesia�s ability to meet poverty alleviation goals. Poor
forest governance damages the investment climate, rural economic potential, and Indonesia�s
competitiveness and international reputation. Forest crime exacerbates problems of budget
and fiscal balance, and diverts public revenues that could be better spent on poverty reduction
and development goals. As Indonesia moves from transition to stabilization and growth,
there is a tremendous opportunity to help the government find new ways of managing forest
areas in partnership with local communities, contributing to democracy, justice, equity, rural
sector investment, jobs and growth.
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