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Indonesia has long struggled to balance economic growth with preserving its natural heritage, in particular the rich diversity of its tropical forests. The government of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has taken a proactive stance on protecting this national treasure.

The government has set a two-year moratorium on issuing new licenses to clear primary forests and peatlands and has promised to conduct regular satellite surveillance to monitor the ban.

Forestry Minister Zulkifli Hasan has noted that only 30 percent of the nation’s timber harvest is drawn from virgin forests instead of logging plantations today, down from 50 percent in 2009. The government has embarked on a campaign to plant 1 billion trees annually, led by the president himself.

But ultimately, the results remain less than satisfactory.

A recent study released by British risk analysis and mapping firm Maplecroft showed that Indonesia still had one of the highest rates of deforestation in the world. Among the ranks of 180 countries, Indonesia was near the top, along with Nigeria and North Korea.

Illegal logging has been one of the biggest culprits in the destruction of the country’s natural forests. The government simply does not have the resources to monitor the large, remote areas of the archipelago, especially in Papua and Kalimantan, where most illegal logging occurs.

Indonesia needs to introduce tougher laws and stricter punishment for those caught cutting down natural forests illegally. The different ministries that control the nation’s forests must coordinate and cooperate by harmonizing regulations and monitoring if we are to seriously tackle this problem.

The international community can also play a role in helping Indonesia to better protect its forests. Yudhoyono has asked international consumers to support Indonesia’s efforts to end illegal logging by not buying illegal products from our forests. If there is demand for illegal logs, the supply will continue.

It is critical that the country puts a stop to illegal logging before it is too late. The mining and palm oil industries can also play a role by ensuring that they adhere to the law and replant areas they have cleared for their operations. We cannot stop development, but it does not have to be at the expense of our natural heritage.