Natural Forest Loss Research Articles

Improving Human Diets and Welfare through Using Herbivore-Based Foods: 2. Environmental Consequences and Mitigations.

Animal-sourced foods are important for human nutrition and health, but they can have a negative impact on the environment. These impacts can result in land use tensions associated with population growth and the loss of native forests and wetlands during agricultural expansion. Increased greenhouse gas emissions, and high water use but poor water quality outcomes can also be associated. Life cycle analysis from cradle-to-distribution has shown that novel plant-based meat alternatives can have an environmental footprint lower than that of beef finished in feedlots, but higher than for beef raised on well-managed grazed pastures. However, several technologies and practices can be used to mitigate impacts. These include ensuring that grazing occurs when feed quality is high, the use of dietary additives, breeding of animals with higher growth rates and increased fecundity, rumen microbial manipulations through the use of vaccines, soil management to reduce nitrous oxide emission, management systems to improve carbon sequestration, improved nutrient use efficacy throughout the food chain, incorporating maize silage along with grasslands, use of cover crops, low-emission composting barns, covered manure storages, and direct injection of animal slurry into soil. The technologies and systems that help mitigate or actually provide solutions to the environmental impact are under constant refinement to enable ever-more efficient production systems to allow for the provision of animal-sourced foods to an ever-increasing population.

Deforestation impacts soil biodiversity and ecosystem services worldwide

Deforestation poses a global threat to biodiversity and its capacity to deliver ecosystem services. Yet, the impacts of deforestation on soil biodiversity and its associated ecosystem services remain virtually unknown. We generated a global dataset including 696 paired-site observations to investigate how native forest conversion to other land uses affects soil properties, biodiversity, and functions associated with the delivery of multiple ecosystem services. The conversion of native forests to plantations, grasslands, and croplands resulted in higher bacterial diversity and more homogeneous fungal communities dominated by pathogens and with a lower abundance of symbionts. Such conversions also resulted in significant reductions in carbon storage, nutrient cycling, and soil functional rates related to organic matter decomposition. Responses of the microbial community to deforestation, including bacterial and fungal diversity and fungal guilds, were predominantly regulated by changes in soil pH and total phosphorus. Moreover, we found that soil fungal diversity and functioning in warmer and wetter native forests is especially vulnerable to deforestation. Our work highlights that the loss of native forests to managed ecosystems poses a major global threat to the biodiversity and functioning of soils and their capacity to deliver ecosystem services.

The role of land inequality in the poverty-forest loss nexus patterns: A case study from Chile

The predominant school of thought argues that poverty is a major cause of deforestation, but several studies have begun to contest this assumption by putting forward that a complex web of factors influences this connection and that multi-patterned nexuses can exist. We explore these nexuses taking southern Chile as a case study and using a Path Analysis for modelling. We relied on secondary data at the land property and municipality levels to construct the exogenous (land inequality, farm and forestry subsidies, and firewood consumption) and endogenous variables of the model (poverty, native forest loss, non-native tree afforestation, ecosystem services supply), which runs at the municipality scale (n = 147). We obtained a very good model adjustment as indicated by common goodness of fit measures. The model's path coefficients showed that land inequality (measured with the Gini coefficient) had a positive direct effect on poverty and forest loss. In turn, poverty had a negative direct effect on forest loss, whereas forest loss had a total negative effect on poverty. Thus, poverty per se does not cause forest loss or vice versa, and rather than a single poverty-forest loss nexus, “many-patterned” nexuses arise. We discus three of these patterns, namely i) development that aggravates poverty, ii) land inequality that aggravates forest loss and poverty, and iii) land inequality that “helps” the cause of forest conservation. These results suggest that policies that seek to solve poverty (e.g., farm subsidies) will not necessarily help prevent forest loss, but neither will neoliberal forest and conservation policies alone. As the SDGs state, solving inequality seems to be a necessary condition for both alleviating poverty and ensuring forest conservation.

Altered Terrain: Colonial Encroachment and Environmental Changes in Cachar, Assam

The beginning of colonial policy in the area was signaled by the British annexation of the Cachar district in southern Assam in 1832. The region became an alluring investment opportunity for Europeans after British rule over Cachar, especially after the accidental discovery of wild tea in 1855. Within this historical context, this study explores three major stages that characterize the evolution of nature. First, it examines the distribution and growth of tea plantations, examining their size and rate of expansion. The second aspect of the study examines the consequences of land concessions, which led to the initial loss of native forests. Finally, the study investigates the increased strain on forests caused by migrant workers' demands. It also highlights the crucial role that the Forest Department plays in protecting these natural habitats from the invasion of tea planters. This study aims to analyze the intricate relationship between colonialism and the altered landscape of Cachar, Assam, by means of a thorough investigation, shedding light on the environmental, economic, and societal aspects of this historical transformation.

Soil resource, a pending regulatory debt in Chile

Soil is a non-renewable resource on a human scale and highly vulnerable to erosion due to anthropogenic management and the variable effects of climate. In Chile, the lack of a legislative concept for soil and changes in Land Use Capacity (LUCap) have constituted the main facilitating agents of soil erosion. Given the inadequacy of current land regulations, and to guide and contribute to the sustainability of the resource, this study presents a proposal for new land use legislation in Chile. We analyse the current national legislation on changes in the LUCap and compare the current land use in the Claro River sub-basin, Chile, with existing LUCap classes, identifying the legal criteria for establishing a national land use regulation, by comparing with international law from Costa Rica and Spain. We carried out a qualitative review analysis of 20 Chilean land use regulations and a quantitative, multi-temporal analysis of LUCap change in the Claro River sub-basin, using spatial analysis tools (ArcGIS 10.1 and/or QGIS 3.14) in Raster and Vector format. Legislations from Costa Rica and Spain were chosen due to similarities with Chilean environmental regulations. We observed that Chile must introduce a Framework Land Law with principles of protection and sustainability for regulating soil. Deforestation was the main land loss driver (60% of native forest loss) in the study area during the 16-year study period, as well as inadequate agricultural management practices. It is essential to unify legislation, following the example of comparative laws of Spain, with the vision of Costa Rica.

Land cover modelling for tropical forest vulnerability prediction in Kalimantan, Indonesia

This study aimed to estimate the vulnerability of tropical forest in Kalimantan, Indonesia, from simulated land cover changes using the Weighted Normalised Likelihood–Markov Chain model (WNL-MC) for the period 2018–2050 under a forest conservation and a no-conservation scenario. Predictions of future vulnerability and forest change were based on land cover maps for 2010 and 2014 developed using the integration of Landsat, ALOS PALSAR, and Sentinel-1 data. The four main land cover classes in the region were oil palm and rubber plantations, native forests, and non-forested areas. The performance of the WNL–MC model was evaluated by comparing the simulated and actual land cover maps for 2018 and validating them against high-resolution images. Kappa accuracy for the simulated maps was >85%, and overall accuracy was >90%. Under the scenario of no forest conservation, native forest showed approximately 50% loss over the next 30 years, while the forest conservation scenario showed a slowing of current deforestation by 18% from 2018 to 2030 and by 5.95% from 2030 to 2050. Native forest outside forest conservation zones was most vulnerable to conversion to other land uses, particularly in lowland areas close to settlements and roads. Estimations of native forest loss, particularly under the no-conservation scenario, emphasise the need for policies to preserve and conserve remaining native forest areas.

Prioritizing Food Products, Environmental Goods and Services from Paramo and Forest Ecosystems in the Chimborazo Province

The study of the prioration of food products, goods and environmental services of the páramo and forest ecosystems of the province of Chimborazo focuses on the identification and valuation of the environmental services provided by the ecosystems of páramo and forest of the province of Chimborazo, in Ecuador.The study was conducted through an expert survey, literature review, social cartography and weighting methodologies. The results indicate that the most important ecosystem services are the provision of livestock and crop goods, water regulation, water for consumption, while the most valued environmental services are water regulation, carbon sequestration and biodiversity conservation.Likewise, it was identified that the main problem in the province is the loss of ecosystems, especially moors and natural forests, due to anthropic activities and the misuse of resources such as water and soil. In addition, contamination by human waste to watersheds and rivers is recurrent in all cantons.Based on these results, there is a need to promote the conservation and restoration of páramo and forest ecosystems in the province, as well as to promote sustainable practices in agricultural and livestock production. It also suggests the implementation of mechanisms for economic valuation of environmental services to encourage their conservation and the development of sustainable economic activities.

Spatially-explicit assessment of carbon stocks in the landscape in the southern US under different scenarios of industrial wood pellet demand

Whether the use of industrial wood pellets for bioenergy is part of the problem of climate change or part of the solution to climate change has been heavily debated in the academic and political arena. The uncertainty around this topic is impeded by contradicting scientific assessments of carbon impacts of wood pellet use. Spatially explicit quantification of the potential carbon impacts of increased industrial wood pellet demand, including both indirect market and land-use change effects, is required to understand potential negative impacts on carbon stored in the landscape. Studies that meet these requirements are scarce. This study assesses the impact of increased wood pellet demand on carbon stocks in the landscape in the Southern US spatially explicitly and includes the effects of demand for other wood products and land-use types. The analysis is based on IPCC calculations and highly detailed survey-based biomass data for different forest types. We compare a trend of increased wood pellet demand between 2010 and 2030 with a stable trend in wood pellet demand after 2010, thereby quantifying the impact of increased wood pellet demand on carbon stocks in the landscape. This study shows that modest increases in wood pellets demand (from 0.5 Mt in 2010 to 12.1 Mt in 2030), compared to a scenario without increase in wood pellet demand (stable demand at 0.5 Mt), may result in carbon stock gains of 103–229 Mt in the landscape in the Southern US. These carbon stock increases occur due to a reduction in natural forest loss and an increase in pine plantation area compared to a stable-demand scenario. Projected carbon impacts of changes in wood pellet demand were smaller than carbon effects of trends in the timber market. We introduce a new methodological framework to include both indirect market and land-use change effects into carbon calculations in the landscape.

Landscape genetics of the Southern Flying Squirrel (Glaucomys volans) in the northeastern United States

Abstract Understanding how changes in landscape properties influence common species is relevant as it allows us to identify patterns that could be shared with co-distributed species that occupy the same landscapes. The northeastern United States (NE-USA: New York state and the six states of New England) is heavily urbanized and affected by continuous and prolonged anthropogenic activities, leading to intensive landscape fragmentation and loss of natural forests. Here, we used a landscape genetics approach to explore the genetic diversity and structure of the Southern Flying Squirrel, Glaucomys volans, and how resulting patterns may be related to landscape fragmentation and forest loss in the NE-USA. To study G. volans genetic variation and population structure, we amplified and genotyped 10 microsatellites loci from DNA extracted from tissue samples stored in biological collections and natural history museums. To assess the influence of landscape on gene flow and connectivity, we used two genetic distances metrics–proportion of shared alleles and codominant marker, and tested two landscape cost models approaches–least cost path and isolation by resistance. We identified three genetic clusters, with low but significant genetic differentiation between them. We did not find correlation between geographic distance and genetic variation in these populations. According to landscape models, land cover and elevation were the best predictors of genetic connectivity of G. volans, although were poorly related to genetic distances. Our results suggest that gene flow occurs between G. volans populations across the NE-USA despite the changed landscape configuration, implying potential dispersal of individuals between patches. Nonetheless, individuals from the eastern periphery of the distribution may have been temporarily isolated in the past due to historical deforestation. The current regeneration of hardwood forests represents a positive outlook for the genetic integrity of G. volans populations in the NE-USA because more possibilities for corridors and patches of habitable forests emerge. These changes would improve the connectivity of the species in the region and avoid possible local extinction events.

When forest loss leads to biodiversity gain: Insights from the Brazilian Atlantic Forest

Decades of research indicate that while native habitat loss often drives biodiversity loss and biotic homogenization, there are frequent exceptions. Relying on a multi-level landscape design, multiple biodiversity metrics and species habitat associations we explored one such exception. We investigated dung beetle responses to Atlantic Forest loss by modeling for both specialist and generalist species abundance, alpha and gamma diversities, and beta diversity through a null-model approach (βRC) that permits comparing observed values to those expected by chance. We found that both native forest specialist and habitat generalist communities gained species with native forest loss at local (ᾱ-diversity) and landscape (γ-diversity) levels, while community composition became increasingly dissimilar (β-diversity). Yet, abundance response to forest loss varied between groups. While for generalists, forest loss led to increased overall abundance and abundance distribution across species remained random among communities, for specialists, overall abundance did not change and abundance distribution across species became dissimilar. Such findings suggest that habitat loss does not always drive a decrease in the number of specialist species that compensate for the gain of generalist species, adding to evidence that habitat loss can drive biodiversity gain and biotic differentiation. These responses may be common in particular biogeographical contexts, where contemporary and/or historical regional dynamics may have influenced the resilience of forest biota and contribute to the availability of disturbance-adapted species. Our study highlights the importance of sampling across multiple spatial scales to understand the effects of habitat loss on biodiversity and suggest caution to silver-bullet conservation guidelines.

Reducing natural vegetation loss in Amazonia critically depends on the formal recognition of indigenous lands

The Brazilian Amazon contains the world's largest tract of tropical forest, about 22 % of which is within demarcated indigenous territories. Formal governmental recognition of these traditional territories is often a critical deterrent to deforestation, but the relative conservation performance of Indigenous Lands (ILs) under different legal categories and geographic contexts remains poorly understood. We used 30-m resolution Landsat satellite imagery to quantitatively assess the land cover status and annual rates of natural vegetation loss between 1985 and 2020 for 381 indigenous territories amounting to ~115 million hectares. Using a comprehensive set of environmental and socio-economic covariates and a mixed-modelling approach, we found that all stages of formal IL recognition consistently inhibit natural vegetation loss throughout the Brazilian Amazon compared to adjacent unprotected areas. Formal physical demarcation and distance from roads were the main proximate drivers of avoided natural vegetation loss inside ILs. Forest loss associated with road access is substantially curbed by ILs, showing the importance of frontier expansion when assessing indigenous reserve performance in counteracting natural vegetation loss. Because loss of natural forest and savannah areas associated with agribusiness frontiers and infrastructure projects are likely to intensify, the importance of ecosystem services provided by ILs is expected to increase across the Brazilian Amazon. Cultural profile and human density exerted no impacts on IL effectiveness in precluding natural vegetation loss. Given widespread encroachment of timber extraction and agribusiness, formal recognition of indigenous territories is a critical factor in decelerating primary habitat conversion across the Amazon.

Detecting the presence of natural forests using airborne laser scanning data

Centuries of forest exploitation have caused significant loss of natural forests in Europe, leading to a decline in populations for many species. To prevent further loss in biodiversity, the Norwegian government has set a target of protecting 10% of the forested area. However, recent data from the National Forest Inventory (NFI) reveals that less than 2% of Norway's forested area consists of natural forests. To identify forests with high conservation value, we used vertical and horizontal variables derived from airborne laser scanning (ALS) data, along with NFI plot measurements. Our study aimed to predict the presence of natural forests across three counties in southeastern Norway, using three different definitions: pristine, near-natural, and semi-natural forests. Natural forests are scarce, and their underrepresentation in field reference data can compromise the accuracy of the predictions. To address this, we assessed the potential gain of including additional field data specifically targeting natural forests to achieve a better balance in the dataset. Additionally, we examined the impact of stratifying the data by dominant tree species on the performance of the models. Our results revealed that semi-natural forests were the most accurately predicted, followed by near-natural and pristine forests, with Matthews correlation coefficient values of 0.32, 0.24, and 0.17, respectively. Including additional field data did not improve the predictions. However, stratification by species improved the accuracy of predictions for near-natural and semi-natural forests, while reducing accuracy for pristine forests. The use of horizontal variables did not improve the predictions. Our study demonstrates the potential of ALS data in identifying forests with high conservation value. It provides a basis for further research on the use of ALS data for the detection and conservation of natural forests, offering valuable insights to guide future forest preservation efforts.

Free satellite image data application for monitoring land use cover changes in the kon ha nung plateau, vietnam

Remote sensing imagery is the most suitable tool for monitoring, managing, and evaluating land-use overlay fluctuations, especially forest cover for large areas. Free- and medium-resolution satellite imagery is a useful tool that allows scientific researchers and management organizations to monitor forest development in developing countries, such as Vietnam. In this study, we used SPOT 4 and Planet remote sensing data to assess land-use status fluctuations in the Kon Ha Nung Plateau area, Vietnam, between 2000 and 2021 (the overall accuracy was 90.52%, Kappa value = 0.89). The results showed that from 2000 to 2010, the rate of natural forest loss in this area was 0.32%/year, of which, more than 6500 ha were converted to other uses. Between 2010 and 2021, the rate of natural forest loss gradually decreased (0.09%/year) instead of fluctuating between different types of land use. The area of forests, perennial crop land, and annual crop land tended to increase from 2000 to 2010; however, from 2010 to 2021, the area of plantation forests decreased markedly, while the area of perennial crop land and annual crop land continued to expand. The analysis of the policies on forest management, exploitation, and protection was applied locally, to explain the causes of the change in spatiotemporal aspects of the types of land-use cover in the Kon Ha Nung Plateau. Restoring forest areas during 2010–2021 initially improved effectiveness in forest management and protection. Furthermore, the results provide a better understanding of the current position and role of the government apparatus, cadres, and ethnic minorities in socioeconomic development associated with forest protection and development on the Kon Ha Nung Plateau. The results of this study can help managers monitor annual forest-cover fluctuations based on free remote sensing imagery to reduce both the cost of management and surveying, yielding relatively accurate results.

Native forest conversion alters soil macroinvertebrate diversity and soil quality in tropical mountain landscapes of northern Ecuador

Land use changes cause soil degradation and loss of biodiversity, thereby affecting ecological processes and soil-associated ecosystem services. However, land use change impacts on soil health have received little attention in the highland landscapes of the tropics. In this research, using the soil health framework, we assessed the impact of native forest conversion to anthropic systems (planted forests, pastures, and monocultures) on two ecosystem services: biodiversity conservation and soil fertility in the highlands of northern Ecuador. The biological dimension of our assessment focused on the diversity, abundance, and biomass of soil macroinvertebrate communities as proxies to soil functions, whereas soil chemical parameters were used to describe the soil fertility. The soil invertebrate communities and soil chemical parameters were studied in topsoil samples using 25 × 25 × 10 cm monoliths, obtained from 10 sampling sites randomly selected in each land use category. We hypothesized that native forests would present more diverse and even soil macroinvertebrate communities, and together with their soil chemical properties would indicate better soil quality than anthropic environments. Our results showed that the structure and composition of the edaphic macroinvertebrate communities significantly differed among the studied land use categories. As predicted, native forests presented greater values for richness, evenness and diversity of soil biota than did the other categories, demonstrating a significant loss of taxonomic biodiversity at order and genus levels. We also found a significant reduction of trophic diversity in native forests converted to anthropic environments. More trophic groups with greater abundances were found in native forests, where predators and detritivores stood out as dominant groups, indicating the good quality of the soil. The results from the soil chemical parameters also confirmed the distinction in soil health between native forests and anthropic environments. Our results highlight the risk associated with current trends of native forest loss and conversion to anthropic systems in high mountain ecosystems in the tropics, illustrating how these alterations could cause biodiversity loss and degradation of the chemical attributes of soil health. The findings of this research could contribute to the conservation and sustainable management of mountain agricultural landscapes in the study region.

Current state of knowledge on the extinction risk of Malaysian tree species: Proximate needs to mitigate loss

Societal Impact StatementAs one of the world's top megadiverse countries for tree species, Malaysia remains committed towards reducing tree population loss and species extinction. In order to ensure efficacy in the planning and implementation of conservation programmes, prioritisation of resources, and mainstreaming across the key drivers of biodiversity loss, it is essential to identify, document, and assess the extinction risk of families with high levels of endemism. In addition to being an integral component of ecosystems and their functions, from a socio‐ecological perspective, the rich biodiversity of Malaysia constitutes extraordinary natural capital that many people depend on for their livelihoods and well‐being.SummaryMalaysia is a megadiverse country for plant species. Knowledge of the diversity of Malaysian plant species is incomplete but has been significantly expanded by the Tree Flora of Sabah and Sarawak and Flora of Peninsular Malaysia projects. More than 400 new plant species, including at least 14 new genera, have been added since 1995. Between 1973 and 2015, Malaysia lost an estimated 29.4% natural forest cover; conserving plant species at immediate risk of extinction will help alleviate future loss of natural forests and biodiversity. With 9.2% of the world's tree species dwelling in Malaysia, of which 29.8% are endemic, species risk assessment is an important conservation planning tool for the Malaysian flora. Through the Global Tree Assessment project, Malaysia verified that approximately 24% of the tree diversity is exposed to a multitude of threats ranging from deforestation and forest degradation to poaching and incursion of invasive alien species. Here, we summarise the extent and types of extinction risk faced by several of our keystone tree families, namely, Dipterocarpaceae, and tree genera of Myristicaceae and Sapotaceae, whose timbers remain highly valued. We summarise the nature and aims of programmes that spur the country's conservation agenda for threatened plant species and describe some specific targets for Peninsular Malaysia, Sabah, and Sarawak. We focus on efforts that enhance in situ conservation and the understanding of population dynamics. Programmes that enable and support the main agenda, such as institutional capacity building and awareness of the importance of biodiversity, are also briefly explained.

What can the Glasgow Declaration on Forests bring to global emission reduction?

What can the Glasgow Declaration on Forests bring to global emission reduction?

Cutting Down Trees Does not Build Prosperity: On the Continued Decoupling of Amazon Deforestation and Economic Development in 21st Century Brazil

Background and Aims We present evidence examining spatial and temporal patterns in forest cover changes and economic indicators in Brazilian Amazonia. Specifically, we tested two predictions embedded in arguments used by influential interest groups: (i) indicators of economic progress should increase where there is less forest and (ii) areas with most recent deforestation should have increased economic indicators. Methods Complementary methods assessed annual variation in economic indicators across 794 administrative districts (municipalities) covering 4.9 Mkm2 of the Brazilian Amazon from 2002 to 2019. A representative subset of municipalities was used to compare economic and socioeconomic indicators across municipalities with contrasting forest cover. Results Contrasting results between the full and a representative subset of municipalities suggested that municipality-level economic indicators cannot be directly attributed to the loss of natural forests. There was no association between forest loss and economic (average salary) or socioeconomic indicators (existence of sanitation plans and internet connectivity). The economic indicators of municipalities with less than 40% forest cover in 1986 were no different to that of similar municipalities with more than 60% forest cover from 1986 to 2019. Conclusion The evidence contradicted both predictions tested. Reducing forest cover does not appear to directly promote socioeconomic progress. Any localized associations between forest cover and poverty most likely result from other more plausible alternatives including lack of opportunity and a widespread failure to effectively implement and enforce existing policies within the local socioeconomic context. Implications for Conservation Our findings support evidence from across the tropics that shows deforestation does not necessarily generate transformative and equitable food production systems or lead to poverty alleviation.

Loss of native forest changes the biophysical dynamics of the water cycle: a brief review

This is a brief review of advances in understanding the forest-water relationship, particularly how the loss of native forests affects biophysical aspects of the water cycle. Initially, we address the participation of forests in the water cycle, especially in intracontinental systems, and how changes in land use and land cover can lead to water insecurity. Next, we present a synthesis of the advanced studies on the influence of evapotranspiration on the availability of water vapour to the atmosphere, and how diverse this process is in tropical ecosystems, which makes the possibility on inferences on an intercontinental and global scale complex. We also compiled information on the influence of the presence of native forests on atmospheric circulation and on the formation of condensation nuclei. Finally, we discuss some implications of forest fragmentation and what some studies point out, as well as considerations about the need to include biological aspects in the design and implementation of scientific models and institutional arrangements at local, regional, and transcontinental scales for understanding and maintenance of a resilient water cycle.

Land Use, Land Cover Change and Sustainable Intensification of Agriculture and Livestock in the Amazon and the Atlantic Forest in Brazil

The Amazon and the Atlantic Forest are Brazilian biomes that suffered an intense land use and land cover change, marked by the loss of native forest and expansion of agriculture and livestock. This article aims to analyze land use and land cover change history and to propose a sustainable alternative for agriculture and livestock as an opportunity for rural development in these biomes. The statistics of the platform from the Annual Mapping Project for Land Use and Land Cover in Brazil (MapBiomas) were used in an annual historical series from 1985 to 2020. The analysis of land use and land cover changes indicates that the Amazon native forest was reduced by 44.53 million hectares (Mha), while pasture, agriculture and planted forest increased by 38.10, 6.06 and 0.26 Mha, respectively, over the 35 years (1985 to 2020). In the Atlantic Forest, for the same period, forest and pasture reduced by 0.99 and 11.53 Mha, respectively, while agriculture expanded by 8.06 Mha and planted forest by 2.99 Mha. Sustainable land use strategies, such as the Integration Crop-Livestock-Forest (ICLF), can support the increase in agricultural production while recovering and preserving the environment. Policies and programs should consider regional particularities and barriers for more significant adoption of this strategy.

Public and Private Sector to Zero Deforestation Commitmen in South Sumatra

To address deforestation, South Sumatra Goverment was committed to be the frontrunner in attaining Green Growth 2017. All economic activities related to land use must comply with the regulations. The private sector supports them with some initiatives by several certifications as their commitment toward zero deforestation (ZDC). However, from the land cover data, South Sumatra Province is one of the highest forest cover loss in Indonesia followed by increasing economic activities. This study aims to explain commitments of the public and private sectors in complying toward zero deforestation. We conducted interviews with relevant agencies and collect the data regarding interventions and initiatives. This study used compliance theory to analyze the commitments of both sectors. The results showed that the public and private sectors in South Sumatra have shown their commitment with the type of treaty-induced compliance. The compliance showed how the commitment is integrated into policies, aligned public and private governance arrangements, and a good environmental quality change by reduced deforestation rate. This showed that one of the ZDC’s objectives is at least halve the rate of loss of natural forests globally by 2020 has been implemented by both. Thus, they strive to end natural forest loss by 2030.