<p>Indonesia’s 17,000-plus islands boast the world’s third-largest tropical rainforest, home to endangered species and Indigenous communities, and a vital shield against climate change. Yet in 2024, the country lost 261,000 hectares of forest—its worst single-year decline since 2021. Why has deforestation surged just as earlier trends seemed to improve? Beyond palm oil, the pressures now include pulpwood plantations, nickel mining, and large-scale food-security schemes that risk draining peatlands, razing mangroves, and displacing communities. Now almost a year into President Prabowo Subianto’s new administration, will Jakarta finally take forest protection seriously—or will it be business as usual? What reforms could steer investment toward already-cleared land, curb land speculation, and protect habitats close to collapse? And how can accountability thrive when so many lawmakers hold stakes in extractive industries? Multi-award winning forest conservationist Farwiza Farhan, and seasoned Asia Institute Indonesia watcher Dr Charlotte Setijadi, join host Sami Shah to examine the forces reshaping Indonesia’s landscape. An <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://arts.unimelb.edu.au/asia-institute/podcasts">Asia Institute podcast</a>. Produced and edited by <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="http://profactual.com">profactual.com</a>. Music by <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="http://audionautix.com">audionautix.com</a>.</p>