Deforestation, degradation, and forest regrowth in Indonesia’s protected areas from 2000-2010

This research used two new land cover maps from 2000 and 2010 to examine recent changes in forest cover in Indonesia’s protected areas (PAs). Our analysis included national parks (NPs), and nature and wildlife reserves (NRs/WSs) where deforestation was detected from 2000-2010. Indonesia’s terrestrial PAs lost approximately 0.37 million hectares (Mha), or 2.6% of their 2000 forest cover by 2010; with an additional 0.71 Mha transition from forest to the plantation/regrowth class. Although the forest regrowth of 0.57 Mha recorded during the same time frame suggests wide spread recovery of areas degraded prior to 2000, the high levels of transition from forest to plantation/regrowth class indicate that forest degradation within the protected areas is still a significant problem. Despite some improvement relative to the 1990s, we conclude that much improved management is required to address continued deforestation and degradation in Indonesia’s PAs.