Mongabay series: Indonesia's Forest Guardians

Local and indigenous communities play an important role managing and protecting forests. Research published in 2014 by World Resources Institute and the Rights and Resources Initiative concluded that community-managed forests experienced an average deforestation rate that is 11 times lower than land outside their borders. Legally recognized, community-managed forest amounts to 513 million hectares or an eighth of the world’s forests, and there are many more community-managed forests that have yet to receive legal recognition, but should be provided that recognition by the government. To showcase some examples of community-managed forests, Mongabay's Indonesia team is developing a series of case studies in Indonesia.

Sulawesi community vies to maintain rights to forest

Community-maintained forest in Delang District, Central Kalimantan, Indonesia. Photo by Revelation Chandra. "We are treated like criminals caught stealing our own land," M. Basri told Mongabay-Indonesia. The acting village head…

Coffee farmers help protect Flores forest

Forest surrounding the Wata Ata region in Flores, Indonesia. Photo by Anton Muhajir. Located on the slopes of Inerie Mountain on the island of Flores in Indonesia, farmers in Bajawa…