Indonesia extends deforestation deal

Indonesia, home to the world’s third-largest tropical forests and a major palm oil producer, will extend a ban on forest clearing, according to a government announcement on Wednesday.

Southeast Asia’s largest economy is facing international pressure to reduce deforestation and curb the destruction of carbon-rich peatlands and forests that palm oil and mining companies want to use to expand production.

Nur Masirpatin, policy advisor for the ministry of environment and forestry, said: “Indonesia will extend the moratorium policy. The policy will certainly continue.”

As the world’s biggest producer of palm oil, Indonesia imposed a two-year moratorium on clearing forest in May 2011 under a $1 billion climate deal with Norway aimed at reducing emissions from deforestation, and the deal was extended for a further two years in May 2013.