Deforestation in Indonesia CS

Where are Indonesia's peat swamp forests primarily located?

Sumatra, Borneo, and Papua - holding 36% of global tropical peatlands.

How much carbon do Indonesian peatlands store?

55 billion tons (equivalent to 2 years of global fossil fuel emissions).

Name the two largest industries driving peatland destruction.

1) Palm oil (60% of global supply)
2) Pulpwood plantations (e.g., APP's acacia trees).

How does illegal logging worsen peat degradation?

Drains peatlands → exposes carbon-rich soil to oxidation and fires.

Why are drained peatlands so carbon-intensive?

Peat is 90% water - when drained, organic matter decomposes, releasing CO₂.

How much CO₂ was emitted during the 2015 peat fires?

1.8 billion tons 

What happened to orangutan populations due to deforestation?

Dropped 50% since 1999 (IUCN Red List).

How did the 2015 haze affect Southeast Asia?

Caused 100,000 premature deaths (Harvard study) across 6 countries.

What is the Peatland Restoration Agency (BRG)'s goal?

Restore 2.4 million hectares by 2024 through rewetting and replanting.

Why has RSPO certification been criticized?

Only 40% of palm oil is certified; loopholes allow continued deforestation.

How did Norway incentivize Indonesia to reduce deforestation?

 $1 billion deal (2010) - pay-for-performance based on verified reductions.

What did the EU Deforestation Regulation (2023) mandate?

Bans imports of palm oil/wood linked to deforestation.

What % of Indonesia's GHG emissions come from peat degradation?

50% when including fires (World Bank).

How much economic damage did the 2015 fires cause?

$16 billion (health + tourism + agriculture losses).

Compare Indonesia's peat fires to Arctic permafrost thaw.

Both release ancient stored carbon, but peat fires are human-ignited vs. permafrost's climate-driven thaw.

How does palm oil demand link to global trade inequalities?

EU/China consume palm oil, while Indonesia bears ecological costs.