ABOVE THE LAW: Corruption, Collusion, Nepotism and the Fate of Indonesia’s Forests

Although poverty, economic collapse, provincial autonomy and many other factors contribute to forest destruction, these are not at the core of the problem. Forests are being destroyed because Indonesia is one of the most corrupt countries in the world and many in the political, business and military elite are unwilling to surrender the wealth and power that Indonesia’s natural resources have given them.