Deforestation and Restoration in the Amazon and Indonesia - Status in the 2020s (October 2020)

Deforestation and Restoration in the Amazon and Indonesia - Status in the 2020s (October 2020)

Even in the 2020s, deforestation remains a serious issue. In particular, the Amazon rainforest in Brazil, the world's largest carbon sink, continues to lose around 12 million hectares of forest annually due to illegal logging and agricultural expansion. According to 2021 statistics, the rate of deforestation in the Amazon is accelerating, releasing about 110 million tons of CO2 into the atmosphere each year. The main causes are agricultural expansion for beef and soy production, with international companies like JBS and Cargill involved.

Meanwhile, deforestation also continues in Indonesia. In Sumatra and Kalimantan islands, more than 96,000 hectares of forest were lost in 2020 due to the expansion of palm oil plantations. In response, the Indonesian government strengthened its crackdown on illegal logging in 2021, and companies like Golden Agri-Resources and Wilmar International have started introducing sustainable agricultural practices.

However, as deforestation progresses, climate change accelerates, with average global temperatures expected to rise by about 1.2°C from pre-industrial levels during the 2020s. As a result, the risk of natural disasters is increasing worldwide. For example, in British Columbia, Canada, forest fires increased, burning more than 100,000 hectares in 2021. The primary causes of these fires are drying and high temperatures due to climate change, making forest restoration efforts urgent.

International efforts to restore forests are also being strengthened. Large corporations like Tesla and Apple are funding forest restoration projects with the goal of achieving carbon neutrality. Additionally, the Amazon Fund was re-launched in 2020 to support reforestation projects within Brazil. Similarly, European countries have set a goal of restoring 300 million hectares of forest by 2030 as part of the EU's Green Deal.

Deforestation is not only an environmental issue but also an economic one. According to UN estimates, the economic losses due to deforestation amount to $200 billion annually, making sustainable forest management and restoration an urgent priority.