A Chronicle of Indonesia’s Forest Management: A Long Step towards Environmental Sustainability and Community Welfare
Authors: Nugroho Hunggul Yudono Setio Hadi , Indrajaya Yonky , Astana Satria , Murniati  , Suharti Sri , Basuki Tyas Mutiara , Yuwati Tri Wira , Putra Pamungkas Buana , Narendra Budi Hadi , Abdulah Luthfy , Setyawati Titiek , Subarudi  , Krisnawati Haruni , Purwanto  , Saputra M. Hadi , Lisnawati Yunita , Garsetiasih Raden , Sawitri Reny , Putri Indra Ardie Surya Liannawatty Purnamawan , Setiawan Ogi , Octavia Dona , Tata Hesti Lestari , Savitri Endang , Abdurachman  , Akbar Acep , Bisjoe Achmad Rizal Hak , Susilo Adi , Hani Aditya , Supangat Agung Budi , Nugroho Agung Wahyu , Kurniawan Agus , Junaedi Ahmad , Yunianto Andhika Silva , Rianti Anita , Nugroho Ardiyanto Wahyu , Sukmana Asep , Premono Bambang Tejo , Bastoni  , Sitepu Bina Swasta , Winarno Bondan , Wiati Catur Budi , Siregar Chairil Anwar , Darwo  , Auliyani Diah , Arini Diah Irawati Dwi , Pratiwi Dian , Swestiani Dila , Wicaksono Donny , Rachmanadi Dony , Pujiono Eko , Karlina Endang , Widyati Enny , Hadi Etik Erna Wati , Nada Firda Mafthukhakh Hilmya , Ansari Fajri , Azwar Fatahul , Njurumana Gerson Ndawa , Siappa Hariany , Gunawan Hendra , Siahaan Hengki , Rachmat Henti Hendalastuti , Riyanto Heru Dwi , Kurniawan Hery , Heriansyah Ika , Yeny Irma , Kinho Julianus , Karmilasanti  , Kayat  , Nugraha Luthfan Meilana , Hanindityasari Luthfi , Takandjandji Mariana , Sallata Markus Kudeng , Mawazin  , Allo Merryana Kiding , Yulianti Mira , Siarudin Mohamad , Hidayat Muhamad Yusup , Qirom Muhammad Abdul , Mukhlisi  , Najib Nardy Noerman , Humaida Nida , Sakuntaladewi Niken , Mindawati Nina , Wahyuningrum Nining , Nugroho Nunung Puji , Heriyanto Nur Muhamad , Nuralamin  , Muin Nurhaedah , Lestari Nurul Silva , Hidayat Oki , Pasaribu Parlin Hotmartua Putra , Pratiwi  , Purwanto  , Santosa Purwanto Budi , Adi Rahardyan Nugroho , Ramawati  , Nisaa Ratri Ma’rifatun , Wahyuningtyas Reni Setyo , Ura Resti , Fauzi Ridwan , Dewi Rosita , Kwatrina Rozza Tri , Nandini Ryke , Fahmi Said , Cahyono Sigit Andy , Lestari Sri , Suhartono  , Ekawati Sulistya , Indriyanti Susana Yuni , Wahyuni Tien , Kalima Titi , Atmoko Tri , Yusnikusumah Tri Rizkiana , Arifanti Virni Budi , Yuskianti Vivi , Sihombing Vivin Silvaliandra , Adinugroho Wahyu Catur , Isnan Wahyudi , Kuswanda Wanda , Halwany Wawan , Herningtyas Wieke , Handayani Wuri , Hadiyan Yayan , Rahmila Yulizar Ihrami 
Published: June 2023

Indonesia is the largest archipelagic country in the world, with 17,000 islands of varying sizes and elevations, from lowlands to very high mountains, stretching more than 5000 km eastward from Sabang in Aceh to Merauke in Papua. Although occupying only 1.3% of the world’s land area, Indonesia possesses the third-largest rainforest and the second-highest level of biodiversity, with very high species diversity and endemism. However, during the last two decades, Indonesia has been known as a country with a high level of deforestation, a producer of smoke from burning forests and land, and a producer of carbon emissions. The aim of this paper is to review the environmental history and the long process of Indonesian forest management towards achieving environmental sustainability and community welfare. To do this, we analyze the milestones of Indonesian forest management history, present and future challenges, and provide strategic recommendations toward a viable Sustainable Forest Management (SFM) system. Our review showed that the history of forestry management in Indonesia has evolved through a long process, especially related to contestation over the control of natural resources and supporting policies and regulations. During the process, many efforts have been applied to reduce the deforestation rate, such as a moratorium on permitting primary natural forest and peat land, land rehabilitation and soil conservation, environmental protection, and other significant regulations. Therefore, these efforts should be maintained and improved continuously in the future due to their significant positive impacts on a variety of forest areas toward the achievement of viable SFM. Finally, we conclude that the Indonesian government has struggled to formulate sustainable forest management policies that balance economic, ecological, and social needs, among others, through developing and implementing social forestry instruments, developing and implementing human resource capacity, increasing community literacy, strengthening forest governance by eliminating ambiguity and overlapping regulations, simplification of bureaucracy, revitalization of traditional wisdom, and fair law enforcement.