The maxim “Emerald of the Equator” was originally applied to Indonesia by the 19^th-century Dutch writer Douwes “Multatuli” Dekker, and with good reason. Indonesia is home to a total area of forest of some 884,950 km², which constitutes some 46.46% of the nation’s total land area, creating a blanket of emerald green which stretches the length and breadth of the nation. Furthermore, approximately ten million Indonesians directly depend on these forests for their livelihoods, whether this involves the gathering of forestry products to meet their daily needs or working within the timber-processing sector of the economy.[1] Indonesia’s forests are also inhabited by a veritable cornucopia of flora and fauna, which is unmatched by any country of comparable size. Indeed, right up until the present, a huge amount of the ecological expeditions that set out to explore Indonesia’s tropical forests return with discoveries of new species.
 
Given the great potential of Indonesia’s forests, many individuals and businesses have attempted to utilize and even exploit the wealth of the natural resources which are contained therein to the limits of their abilities. However, limits have indeed been set on the utilization of the country’s forests, in order to ensure balance and the overall protection of the environment.  Indonesia’s forests are controlled under several laws and regulations. These include Law No. 41 of 1999on Forestry (“Forestry Law”), Law No. 5 of 1990on the Conservation of Living Natural Resources and Ecosystems (“Conservation Law”), and Law No. 32 of 2009on the Protection and Management of the Environment.
 
The Forestry Law outlines different classifications of forests, as well as their various functions. Indeed, despite a majority of the country’s forests looking almost identical to each other at first glance, they in fact have different functions and can only be utilized for certain activities. Accordingly, this week’s Indonesian Law Digest (ILD) will attempt to parse basic information regarding the country’s various types of forest, as well as the various licenses which need to be obtained in order to utilize forest areas within Indonesia. Our discussion will confine itself to the following topics: