New data links rising forest clearance to self-sufficiency goals and weaker safeguards

Indonesia’s forest loss sharply accelerated in 2025, raising fresh alarms over the environmental cost of the country’s drive for food and energy security. The latest findings suggest that large-scale land clearing is once again becoming a major threat to one of the world’s most important tropical forest regions.

Forest Loss Hits Highest Level In Years
Forest loss in Indonesia surged by 66 percent in 2025, reaching 433,751 hectares, up sharply from 261,575 hectares in 2024, according to Auriga Nusantara. The environmental think-tank said the figure marked the highest rate of deforestation in eight years. Using satellite imagery and field visits across 49,000 hectares in 16 provinces, the group found that Indonesia’s forest clearing had returned to levels not seen since 2016, when more than one million hectares were lost.

Food Security Drive Comes Under Scrutiny
Auriga chairman Timer Manurung said one of the main drivers was President Prabowo Subianto’s food security agenda, which aims to increase domestic production of key staples such as rice and reduce reliance on imports. In 2025, the government allocated 20.6 million hectares of forest areas for food, energy, and water-related programs, with 43 percent of that land classified as natural forest. More than 78,000 hectares of so-called food reserve forest were cleared in 2025 alone. Manurung warned that some of the converted land, especially peatland in Borneo, may not even be suitable for rice cultivation.

Energy And Mining Expansion Add Pressure
Beyond agriculture, Indonesia’s bioenergy and extractive industries also added to forest loss. Auriga said large areas were converted into industrial forest plantations for biomass production, while another 37,910 hectares were cleared inside oil palm concessions. A further 41,162 hectares were turned into coal, gold, and nickel concession areas. The group argued that these trends reflect a continuation of policies from the previous administration, particularly strategic project frameworks and the Job Creation Law, which critics say weakened environmental protections.

Borneo, Sumatra, And Papua Bear The Biggest Impact
Among Indonesia’s major islands, Borneo recorded the fastest forest shrinkage in 2025, followed by Sumatra and Papua. East Kalimantan, where Indonesia’s planned new capital is located, emerged as the hardest-hit province. Auriga also flagged sharp increases in deforestation in several Sumatran provinces that were hit by floods and landslides in 2025. Compared with 2024, forest loss rose by 426 percent in Aceh, 281 percent in North Sumatra, and 1,034 percent in West Sumatra, suggesting a worrying overlap between ecological damage and disaster vulnerability.

Calls Grow For Stronger Protection Before Dry Season
Indonesia’s Forestry Ministry said it would strengthen efforts to control deforestation and continue evaluating strategic programs to ensure they do not neglect forest protection. Still, environmental groups say stronger regulation is urgently needed, along with wider conservation coverage beyond formal forest estates. Manurung said the latest figures should serve as a warning, especially with the coming dry season and El Nino conditions expected to raise the risk of forest and land fires. Without corrective action, Indonesia could face not only deeper biodiversity loss, but also more severe climate and disaster impacts.

The sharp rise in Indonesia’s deforestation in 2025 highlights the growing tension between economic ambition and environmental protection. For Indonesians, the consequences could include greater flood, landslide, and fire risks, especially in already vulnerable regions. For Singaporeans, the trend matters because forest degradation in Indonesia has long carried cross-border implications, from biodiversity loss to the threat of regional haze. How Jakarta balances development with conservation will increasingly shape the environmental future of Southeast Asia.

Sources: Straits Times (2026) , CNA (2026)

Keywords: Indonesia Forest Loss, Deforestation 2025, Prabowo Food Security, Borneo Deforestation, Papua Forest Loss, Environmental Protection Indonesia