Have you ever noticed that the forest area in Indonesia is gradually decreasing due to deforestation? This has become a very concerning problem, because without serious handling, this forest damage will have a significant impact on environmental balance and the future.
According to data from Auriga Nusantara, deforestation has reached 433,751 hectares, with the Kalimantan region experiencing the most extensive damage, followed by Sumatra and Papua. Most of the damage is caused by irresponsible human actions.
In my opinion, efforts to preserve forests must be carried out through changes in public behavior in managing forests and increasing awareness of the importance of maintaining their sustainability. In addition, the government needs to strengthen forest management policies so that the impact of deforestation on the environment can be minimized.
This is in line with data from the World Resources Institute (WRI) which shows that Brazil and Indonesia are the two countries with the highest deforestation rates in the world during the period 2015–2024, with total global deforestation reaching tens of millions of hectares.
Deforestation has a significant negative impact on environmental balance. Forests, often referred to as the lungs of the world, play a very important role in providing oxygen for the survival of living beings, as forests function in absorbing carbon dioxide.
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Forests are also home to various types of flora and fauna, and they have abundant natural resources. Therefore, when deforestation occurs, such as the exploitation of natural resources in the forest, infrastructure development that often requires opening forest areas, forest fires caused either by human actions or natural factors, and also illegal logging without replanting trees in the deforested areas.
As a result, ecosystems that serve as homes for various types of flora and fauna become damaged. Many animals also lose their habitats, where forests function as shelters, places to find food, and places to breed. Therefore, if the area of their habitats continues to decrease, these animals will be threatened with extinction.
Not only that, the consequences of deforestation include an increased potential for natural disasters such as floods and landslides. Therefore, efforts in forest conservation and wise management are very necessary to maintain environmental balance.
Deforestation in Indonesia experienced a surge in 2025, with a total deforestation area of 433,751 hectares, an increase of 66% or 166% from the 2024 deforestation area of 261,575 hectares. This was revealed through the release of the Indonesian Deforestation Status 2025 (STADI 2025) by Auriga Nusantara.
Deforestation occurring in Indonesia, for example, the conversion of natural forest land in Sumatra, especially in Aceh, Riau, Jambi, and also Kalimantan, has been converted into palm oil plantations and Industrial Plantation Forests.
In addition, there has been an increase in the rate of deforestation in Papua due to the expansion of plantations and infrastructure, which replaced primary forests.
The impacts that have occurred as a result of deforestation in Indonesia, such as landslides and massive floods in North Sumatra at the end of 2025, experienced an extraordinary surge in deforestation.
Other Impact based on videos I have seen on social media, a group of monkeys in Morowali, Central Sulawesi, appear to be in a nickel mining area after their natural habitat was allegedly damaged due to land clearing.
Another video also shows a Bornean elephant standing in the middle of a forest that has been logged and is set to be converted into a palm oil plantation. Both incidents illustrate that deforestation and forest conversion have reduced wildlife habitats, causing them to lose both their homes and sources of food.
This situation not only threatens the survival of various species but also has the potential to trigger conflicts between humans and wildlife. Therefore, efforts are needed for forest conservation and more sustainable natural resource management to maintain ecosystem balance.
Some people believe that deforestation is necessary for economic needs, like opening land for farming, plantations, mining, and infrastructure because they think it can create jobs and improve people’s welfare.
Examples include using trees from forests as construction materials and building houses, as raw materials for making paper and tissues, and turning forests into paved roads to make it easier to transport goods from one place to another.
However, large-scale forest clearing for industrial purposes causes various problems because it damages the environment, threatens biodiversity, and ignores the negative impacts that will occur for the sake of short-term economic profit.
Therefore, more sustainable alternatives are needed to replace excessive deforestation, such as sustainable forest management, reforestation, agroforestry, use of already cleared land, and the implementation of policies that support a balance between economic development and environmental preservation.
In conclusion, although some people see deforestation as part of industrial development and economic growth, I believe that deforestation is a major threat to the environment because logging can cause forest damage and disrupt forest functions, which affects environmental balance.
Therefore, as a community, we need to be wiser in managing, preserving, and protecting forests. Examples of this include planting plants or trees in residential areas, reducing the use of tissue and paper by switching to reusable products, and providing awareness or education to the public about the importance of protecting forests.
In addition, the government also needs to increase supervision and law enforcement against illegal logging. With proper conservation and management efforts, people can benefit from forests without damaging them.
Penulis: Reva Amellia Rohman
Mahasiswa Akuntansi Sektor Publik Universitas Harkat Negeri (UHN)
Dosen Pengampu: M. Sofyan Firmansyah, S.S., M.A
Editor: Ika Ayuni Lestari
Bahasa: Rahmat Al Kafi
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