• Most tropical countries are experiencing record-high deforestation rates, but in Indonesia, forest loss is slowing.

• But nearly half of the forest cleared in 2024 can’t be linked to an identifiable driver, raising red flags about speculative land clearing, regulatory blind spots and delayed environmental harm.

• Land is often cleared but not immediately used; research shows that nearly half of deforested lands in Indonesia remain idle for more than five years.

• Experts say these trends signal regulatory failure, as the government issues permits widely and concession holders face few consequences for clearing forest and abandoning the land, creating a cycle of destruction without accountability.