Asia Pacific
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The sugar or the trees
While global attention is fixed on palm oil and logging as major drivers of deforestation in Indonesia, researchers have issued…
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Timber laws set to shake up local industry
Like many areas in Indonesia, the Regency of Berau in East Kalimantan is rich in natural resources. So naturally, development…
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International Day of Forests 2016: What’s the state of the world’s forests?
To mark the Day’s fourth anniversary, Peter Holmgren, Director General of the Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR) and Tony…
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Why ‘zero deforestation’ is only one piece of the sustainability puzzle
In the midst of efforts to achieve ‘zero deforestation’, it’s important to remember that halting deforestation is not just about…
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“Slash and burn” works, given time and space
It’s long been stigmatized, blamed for destroying forests and releasing greenhouse gases. But, when done properly, shifting cultivation can create…
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Coastal blue carbon from planted mangroves holds promise
Mangrove forests might account for only 0.5 percent of coastal areas worldwide, but they punch well above their weight when…
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Rising tides: Will mangroves keep up as sea levels climb?
Although mangroves will be able to withstand moderate sea level rise, the highest projections for the end of this century…
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PFES and REDD+ in Vietnam – A two-pronged approach to forest conservation
HANOI, Vietnam – Vietnam is no stranger to forest conservation payment schemes. Its national Payments for Forest Environmental Services (PFES)…
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Zero deforestation in Indonesia: Pledges, politics and palm oil
“No Deforestation. No Peat. No Exploitation”: The pledges echoing throughout the palm oil sector, as major consumer goods manufacturers and…
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Waiting to exhale: The politics of fire in Indonesia
Why are there more land fires in Indonesia before an election? Why are oil palm plantations burned also? Why does…
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Companies and government need each other on zero deforestation
Government and business in Indonesia share the goal of curbing deforestation, despite the tension between how they go about this,…
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Smallholders at the heart of Indonesia’s zero-deforestation dispute
Helping smallholder oil palm farmers become more sustainable will be crucial in resolving differences between the Indonesian government and palm…
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Community rights to resources in Indonesia: A conversation
When Indonesian President Joko Widodo took office in 2014, he made a commitment to strengthen the rights of local communities…
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Work to avoid further fires starts now
The rainy season has begun in Indonesia, dousing most of the fires that have been burning across Sumatra and Kalimantan.…
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Beyond the blaze: What next for Indonesia’s forests?
More than 100,000 fires ravaged the Indonesian islands of Sumatra and Kalimantan throughout September and October 2015, producing a noxious…
1 min read