The Indonesian government has revoked 3 million ha forest permits in a press statement Indonesian President Joko Widodo announced the government has revoked 192 forestry sector permits covering an area of 3,126,439 hectares because companies that have the permits have not carried out any activities in recent years. Source: Tropical Timber Market Report
According to the President, this step was taken in an effort to improve the governance of natural resources and to encourage community welfare through productive forest management.
This is decision is unprecedented in Indonesian history.
Through this move more access to forest areas can be granted to communities, land productivity and investment can be raised, and governance can be strenghthened.
The Environment and Forestry Minister pointed that 1.7 million hectares of revoked palm oil permits in state forest areas account for over 57% of the total revoked permit areas.
In addition, permits for logging and pulpwood concession areas covering over 1.32 million hectares had also been revoked.
