Study Finds Political Will Key to Protecting Forests in the Amazon and Indonesia

A new study published in Conservation Letters (July 31, 2025) reveals that political will has been the most decisive factor in protecting tropical forests in both Brazil’s Amazon and Indonesia.

Led by Joss Lyons-White and involving 35 conservation experts worldwide, the research applied the Delphi method—a structured process of repeated consultation with experts—to seek consensus on what has allowed forests to survive. Rather than asking what drives deforestation, the study asked: why have some forests remained intact?

Findings in the Brazilian Amazon

Experts highlighted political will and law enforcement as the top factors, each cited by 73% of participants. Other critical measures included the Forest Code (Brazil’s key forestry law), satellite monitoring, and the PPCDAm (Action Plan for the Prevention and Control of Deforestation in the Legal Amazon).

Over time, the role of Indigenous rights and international advocacy was seen as important in the 1990s. But by the 2000s, attention shifted to stronger state-led measures such as monitoring systems, enforcement, and national legislation.

Findings in Indonesia

In Indonesia, factors considered important included the moratorium on new palm oil and forest concessions, civil society advocacy, and deforestation-free supply chain policies. Yet, when experts ranked their significance across decades, government political will emerged as the only factor consistently rated “very important,” particularly during the 2010s.

“In Indonesia, multiple non-state actors—from NGOs to corporations—play a role. But in the long run, the government’s political will is what really makes the difference,” the study summarized.

Global Lessons

The research underscores that without strong political commitment, legal frameworks and market-based policies alone are unlikely to succeed in halting deforestation.

In Brazil, the state has played a more consistent role in forest protection, while Indonesia’s model has been more hybrid, combining government action with civil society and private sector initiatives.

The findings send a clear message to other tropical nations halting deforestation requires not just technical measures or international pressure, but above all, political courage and sustained commitment. (Wage Erlangga)