Forests in Indonesia and Finland

According to a new research paper, Indonesia has lost one quarter of its old-growth forest since 1990, with its intact forest area (natural forest undisturbed by human activity) declining by 45%. Nearly half of Indonesia’s deforested land had no detectable land use five years after clearing.

This was caused by fires, long assumed to be Indonesia’s principal idle land driver, and by deliberate mechanical clearing, an understudied phenomenon despite its large deforestation footprint. When idle areas were converted to productive uses, the majority were planted with oil palms, which covered 28% of Indonesia’s deforested land by 2020.

Oil palms were the only major land use for which lagged conversion was the norm; other major drivers such as smallholder agriculture were typically established immediately after clearing.

This can be compared to boreal forestry in Finland, where practically all clear-cut forests are regenerated within a couple of years—mostly within one year—using local tree species selected based on their soil requirements. Forest fires do occur but are quickly extinguished, so the burned areas very rarely exceed one hundred hectares. Even then, they are regenerated very soon.

The amount of wood in Finnish forests has increased continuously since the 1960s, despite the country’s strong forest industry, which contributes almost one-fifth of its export value. At the same time, the area of protected forests has increased year after year, and there are currently 73 old-growth forest reserves established on state-owned lands.

The lesson to be learned is that forests can be used efficiently in two ways: sustainably or destructively. But what should we do to make the first option so attractive that it would be practiced everywhere?

Previous thoughts on the same topic:
Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto aligned Indonesia on the wrong side of world history
A new justification is needed for environmental activists
They want to wipe out from Finland what is good for Africa

Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto aligned Indonesia on the wrong side of world history

Indonesian Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto has put forth a substantive proposition for a ceasefire at the current positions. He emphasized the importance of reaching a decision regarding the establishment of a demilitarized zone in the areas affected by the ongoing armed conflict. Additionally, Subianto proposed the deployment of United Nations peacekeepers in these regions.

The proposal practically means supporting Putin's Russia, which attacked Ukraine. This indicates that Indonesian leaders fail to grasp the fact that they are aligning themselves on the wrong side of world history. Supporting an aggressive aggressor essentially undermines the foundation of a world where international agreements hold value and those who violate them are held accountable for their actions.

In doing so, Indonesia also marginalizes itself from the intellectual and economic progress of the world, which results in a lower quality of life for its citizens than what would otherwise be possible. However, it is true that the choice is ultimately for the Indonesian people to make, and external parties who adhere to international rules cannot interfere with it. But they also do not have to favor the disruptor.

Therefore, it is important that as many countries as possible express their clear opposition to Subianto's proposal, highlighting that it does not generate sympathy among their own populations towards Indonesia.

The timing of the proposal is likely not a coincidence. It was presented at a time when Putin's army has weakened and is destined to lose the war. The timing may also have been influenced by President Zelensky's statement that Ukraine is ready for a counterattack, which could be launched at any moment.

In this situation, it is desirable that the offensive is launched successfully, causing panic among the Russian occupiers. If that happens, the liberation of the country may not come at an exorbitant cost to the Ukrainians, even though they are prepared to pay any price for it.

Previous thoughts on the same topic:
Does the attack by Russian rebels pose a problem for Ukraine?
Will China ally with Russia against Ukraine?
Incapable of learning but capable of genocide