A new direction in climate compatible development: Indonesia’s Forest Moratorium

The document examines the 2011 Indonesian forest moratorium, highlighting its role in improving data transparency through the Indicative Moratorium Map and the necessity of private sector buy-in. It identifies critical challenges in monitoring, enforcement, and vertical coordination between national and local governments, while suggesting that the moratorium period be used to reform licensing and spatial planning to balance economic growth with climate goals.

• The forest moratorium, signed by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono on 20 May 2011, prohibits new permits for primary natural forest and peatland for two years. According to World Resources Institute (WRI) analysis, this area encompasses 43.3 million hectares and approximately 25.3 gigatons of carbon stocks.
• The government has improved data transparency by publishing the Indicative Moratorium Map (IMM) in July 2011, which must be revised every six months. This represents the first time a spatial policy on forest resources has been made publically available in map form.
• Support from the private sector, including the Indonesian Palm Oil Association (GAPKI) and the Round Table on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO), was secured through compromises such as exempting existing permits and excluding secondary forests. This buy-in is considered essential due to the influence of the private sector in land-use decisions and the lack of strong government monitoring mechanisms.
• Effective implementation is hindered by weak monitoring and enforcement; WRI research identified 103 verified forest clearing events within the IMM area during the first three months of the moratorium.
• There are significant challenges regarding institutional coordination, particularly vertical coordination with provincial and district governments who are responsible for licensing and enforcement. Additionally, the presidential instruction omitted key ministries, including the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Agriculture, and the Ministry of Mining.
• The moratorium is viewed as a window of opportunity to reform licensing and spatial planning, allowing the government to revoke illegal permits and zone land for conservation or sustainable agriculture. This is necessary to reconcile greenhouse gas emission reduction goals with economic targets, such as doubling palm oil production by 2020.

APA

Austin, K., Prasodjo, R., & Stolle, F. (2012). A new direction in climate compatible development: Indonesia’s Forest Moratorium. Climate and Development Knowledge Network. https://cdkn.org/sites/default/files/files/Indonesia-InsideStory_final_low-res.pdf

Chicago

Austin, Kemen, Rauf Prasodjo, and Fred Stolle. A new direction in climate compatible development: Indonesia’s Forest Moratorium. Climate and Development Knowledge Network, 2012. https://cdkn.org/sites/default/files/files/Indonesia-InsideStory_final_low-res.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Austin |first1=Kemen |last2=Prasodjo |first2=Rauf |last3=Stolle |first3=Fred |title=A new direction in climate compatible development: Indonesia’s Forest Moratorium |publisher=Climate and Development Knowledge Network |date=April 2012 |url=https://cdkn.org/sites/default/files/files/Indonesia-InsideStory_final_low-res.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{austin2012new, author = {Austin, Kemen and Prasodjo, Rauf and Stolle, Fred}, title = {{A new direction in climate compatible development: Indonesia’s Forest Moratorium}}, institution = {Climate and Development Knowledge Network}, year = {2012}, month = apr, url = {https://cdkn.org/sites/default/files/files/Indonesia-InsideStory_final_low-res.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }