Indonesia's Forests are vanishing faster than ever

  • 24/01/2000

  • International Herald Tribune (Bangkok)

Indonesia's forests are disappearing even faster than studies a few years ago indicated. Despite the proclamations of previous Indonesian governments of a permanent forest estate, with 49 million hectares in protected status and another 63 million managed for sustainable production, deforestation has continued unchecked. Indeed, it has accelerated. Neither the efforts of dedicated non-governmental organizations nor the projects supported by a small but persistent group of international donors have slowed the pace of forest destruction.