Opinion: Indonesia's Forestry Moratorium Extended for 2Years

The moratorium period under Presidential Instruction No. 10 of 2011, which prohibits the issuance of new area use licenses (including pinjam pakai or "borrow to use" permits) over any areas which were designated as "primary forest" or peatland area, has been extended. Through Presidential Instruction No. 6 of 2013, the President has extended the moratorium period for another two years (i.e., until 13 May 2015).

Save for the extension of the moratorium period, the new Presidential Instruction does not contain any significant amendment or addition to the moratorium provisions.

Exemptions still exist for geothermal, oil and gas, electricity, and restoration ecosystem projects, or where a pinjam pakai or In-principle Approval had (as of 13 May 2013) already been granted.

In addition, the Ministry of Forestry will continue to have the task of stipulating updates to the indicative map (being the basis of determining "primary forest" or peatland areas where the moratorium applies). The current map can be found at the Ministry of Forestry's website: http://appgis.dephut.go.id/appgis/petamoratorium_rev3.html

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