Deforestation in Indonesia rose in 2024 for a third year running, a local environmental NGO said Friday, based on satellite image analysis and fieldwork.
A government official disputed the figures, saying they mischaracterised deforestation in the country.
Indonesia has one of the world’s highest rates of deforestation, with key drivers including timber plantations, palm oil cultivation and, increasingly, the mining of critical minerals.
Its rainforests are some of the world’s most biodiverse, providing crucial habitats for threatened and endangered species, and are key carbon sinks.
The report by NGO Auriga Nusantara said 261,575 hectares…