Lesson video

Hello and welcome.

My name is Ms. Harrison.

I'm so excited to be learning with you today.

Today's lesson is called deforestation in Indonesia's tropical rainforest.

Grab everything you might need for today's lesson and let's begin our learning.

By the end of today's lesson, you'll be able to describe the location, causes, and impacts of deforestation in Indonesia.

Before we can begin this learning, we need to define the keywords that we'll be using throughout today's lesson.

The keywords are biodiversity, deforestation, and subsistence farmers.

Biodiversity, this is a measure of how many different species live in an ecosystem.

Deforestation, this is large-scale removal or clearing of forests.

Subsistence farmers, these are farmers that grow only enough food for themselves.

Now that we've defined these keywords, we can begin our learning.

The first question we are going to explore in today's lesson is, where are Indonesia's rainforests located? Indonesia is a vast and fascinating country located in Southeast Asia.

It is made up of over 17,000 islands.

It sits between the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean, and it spans across the equator, giving it a tropical climate.

Geographically, it lives just south of the Philippines, Taiwan to the north, and west of Australia.

Indonesia shares its borders with several countries, including Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, and East Timor.

It is home to 270 million people.

With its diverse archipelago, Indonesia is known for its stunning landscapes, from lush rainforest and towering volcanoes to beautiful beaches and coral reefs.

Its location also places it in the Pacific Ring of Fire, making an area of high seismic activity, which contributes to the country's many volcanoes and geothermal features.

True or false, Indonesia is a large island with a small population.

Pause the video here whilst you decide that this statement is true or false, and press play to continue.

Fantastic.

The answer is false.

I would now like you to explain why this is false.

Pause the video here and press play to continue.

Excellent.

The reason why this statement is false is because Indonesia is not one island.

It is an archipelago, a group of over 17,000 islands.

Nor does it have a small population.

Its population is over 270 million people.

Well done if you managed to explain that correctly.

Rainforests are one of the most biodiverse ecosystems on the planet.

And in Indonesia, they are primarily found on three major islands, Borneo, Sumatra, and Papua.

On Borneo, which is shared with Malaysia and Brunei, the rainforest is some of the oldest and most diverse in the world, home to unique species like orangutans and pygmy elephants.

Sumatra to the west also has vast tropical rainforests, many of which are threatened by deforestation, but still support iconic wildlife, such as the Sumatran tiger and the rhino.

Far to the east in Papua, the western half of the island of New Guinea, the rainforests are dense and largely untouched, teeming with species found nowhere else on earth.

These islands with their rich tropical ecosystems are crucial to the world's biodiversity, offering habitats for countless plants and animal species, many of which are still being discovered.

Which islands are the majority of Indonesia's rainforests located on? A, Borneo and Sumatra.

B, Borneo and Papua.

C, Borneo and Sumatra, and Papua.

Pause the video here whilst you decide and press play when you're ready to continue.

Excellent.

The answer is C, Borneo, Sumatra, and Papua.

Well done if you managed to identify that correctly.

Using the map, identify which sea or ocean is labelled.

Is it, A, Atlantic Ocean, B, Indian Ocean, C, Celebes Sea, D, Pacific Ocean.

Pause the video here whilst you decide and press play when you're ready to continue.

Excellent.

The answer is, D, the Pacific Ocean.

Well done.

Izzy has written a paragraph about the location of Indonesia's rainforests, but she has made some errors.

I would like you to correct her mistakes.

This is what Izzy has said.

Indonesia is located in West Asia, and is made up of three large islands.

Almost all of Indonesia is covered by tropical rainforests.

Indonesia's rainforests make up over 50% of the world's rainforests.

Pause the video here whilst you attempt to correct her mistakes and press play when you're ready to continue.

Well done.

Let's check our answers.

Your answers should read like this.

Indonesia's located in Southeast Asia and it's made up of over 17,000 islands.

Most of Indonesia's rainforest is concentrated on the islands of Papua, Borneo, Sumatra.

Indonesia's rainforest make up 10% of all the world's rainforests.

Well done if you managed to explain that correctly.

We are now going to explore the second question of today's lesson.

What are the causes of deforestation? Indonesia's tropical rainforest are among the most biodiverse ecosystems on earth.

The country's rainforest, particularly in the islands of Borneo, Sumatra, and Papua, are home to an incredible variety of plants and animal species.

What makes these rainforests even more special is that many of the species found in them are endemic, meaning they're found nowhere else in the world.

For example, the Bornean orangutan and the pygmy elephant are unique to the island of Borneo, and they can't be found anywhere in the world.

The fact that there are a high number of plants and animals that are endemic to Indonesia's rainforests mean that they're vital to the planet's biodiversity as they house countless species that rely on this unique habitat for survival.

Indonesia is a culturally rich country and home to over 300 distinct indigenous groups, each with their own unique languages, traditions, and ways of life.

Among these groups are the Dayak people of Borneo and the Awa people of Sumatra who have deep cultural connections to the land and rainforests around them.

It is estimated that around 50 million indigenous people live in or near Indonesia's tropical rainforests.

These communities have lived for generations in harmony with the forests, relying on the rich natural resources for food, shelter, and medicine.

Their traditional knowledge of the rainforest ecosystem is invaluable, offering insights into sustainable living and forest conservation.

These indigenous groups play a critical role in protecting the rainforests as they're often the first stewards of the land, working to preserve the biodiversity and the balance of the ecosystem they call home.

In the year 2000, nearly 75% of Indonesia's islands were covered in forests, making the country one of the most forested in the world.

However, over the past few decades, deforestation has taken a significant toll.

Today, the forest coverage has declined to just 48%.

This loss of forest is largely due to logging agriculture and palm oil plantations, which have course massive deforestation, particularly in places like Borneo and Sumatra.

The impact of this loss is immense.

Not only is it threatening biodiversity and putting species like orangutans and tigers at risk, but it also contributes to climate change, as forests act as vital carbon sinks.

Efforts are being made to slow deforestation, but the challenge remains to protect and restore these critical forests for the environment and the communities that rely on them.

Let's take a closer look at this graph looking at primary forest loss between 2001 and 2023.

In 2016, we can see that over 840,000 hectares were cleared.

However, we can also note that deforestation rates are beginning to slow in the latter part of 2020.

I would like you to identify the year the most primary forest loss occurred in Indonesia.

Was it, A, 2009, B, 2012, C, 2016, or, D, 2020? Pause the video here whilst you attempt this task and press play when you're ready to continue.

Fantastic.

The answer is, C, 2016.

Well done if you managed to get that correct.

We can use Esri's Wayback App to investigate forest cover change over time.

On your screen is a satellite image showing change in forest cover near the Tasman National Park in Borneo, and it shows us between 2014 all the way to 2020.

What do you notice about rainforest cover over time in Borneo? Pause the video here whilst do you have a think and press play when you're ready to continue.

Excellent.

We can see that rainforest cover is decreasing.

We can see that there is deforestation happening for a variety of reasons.

We now need to explore what these reasons are.

I would like you to pause here and have a think what are the causes of deforestation? Press play when you're ready to continue.

Well done.

Let's go through our answers.

Some of the causes of deforestation are subsistence farming, commercial farming, logging, road building, mineral extraction, energy development, settlement, and population growth.

One of the practises contributing to deforestation Indonesia is slash-and-burn farming, especially among subsistence farmers.

This method involves cutting down vegetation and setting it on fire to quickly prepare the soil for crops.

It's a cheap and efficient way to clear land, but it comes with serious consequences.

While the immediate effect is the creation of fertile soil for farming, the fires can quickly get out of control, causing widespread destruction.

In 2015 alone, over 2.

6 million hectares of land was burned, leading to massive habitat loss and contributing significantly to air pollution.

The smoke from these fires affect air quality across Southeast Asia, leading to health issues for millions of people.

Slash-and-burn farming not only threatens biodiversity, but also exacerbates climate change, making it a critical issue to address in its efforts to protect Indonesia's forests and environment.

Palm oil is one of the most widely used ingredients in the world, found in everything from foods and cosmetics to biofuels.

In Indonesia, palm oil production is a major industry that boosts the country's economy, contributing to 5.

3% of its GDP.

However, this booming industry comes with a significant environmental challenges.

As demand for palm oil grows, large areas of Indonesia's rainforest are cleared to make way for palm oil plantations.

Much of this deforestation is illegal and weak enforcement of environmental regulations allows it to continue being unchecked.

The consequences are far-reaching.

Illegal deforestation destroys vital habitats, contributes to biodiversity loss, and drives climate change by releasing large amounts of carbon into the atmosphere.

Balancing economic growth with environmental protection remains a key challenge for Indonesia, as it works to address the issues surrounding palm oil production.

Logging is a major industry in Indonesia, as the country's tropical rainforest are home to valuable hardwoods like mahogany and rosewood.

These trees are highly sought after for furniture and construction, and paper products.

However, the logging industry also presents significant environmental challenges.

It is estimated that up to 80% of logging in Indonesia may be illegal.

Unregulated logging contributes to widespread deforestation, harming ecosystems and threatening species like orangutans and tigers.

Illegal logging is driven by high demand for timber and weak enforcement of laws, leading to unsustainable practises and severe environmental damage.

This makes it even harder to protect the country's rainforest and their biodiversity, highlighting the need for stronger regulations and more effective monitoring.

Which of these commercial crops is strongly linked to tropical rainforest deforestation in the Indonesia? Is it, A.

Cacao, B, coffee, C, palm oil, D, tea.

Pause the video here whilst you attempt this task and press play when you're ready to continue.

Excellent.

The answer is, C, palm oil.

Well done.

Roads play a significant role in deforestation in Indonesia as they're built not only for the transportation, but also access to remote rainforest areas for activities like logging, mining, and farming.

While roads provide crucial communication and trade routes, they also have a darker impact on the environment.

By opening up previously inaccessible forest areas, roads make it easier for illegal loggers to enter and exploit these regions.

This often leads to illegal deforestation as timbers' taken from protected areas without proper oversight.

Additionally, roads disrupt wildlife habitats, fragment ecosystems, and contribute to further environmental degradation.

Indonesia is rich in natural resources, including nickel, copper, and gold, which have made the mining industry a significant part of the country's economy.

The mining sector contributes about 12% to Indonesia's GDP, fueling economic growth and providing jobs.

However, mining also has environmental consequences.

The extraction of these valuable minerals often involves clearing large areas of rainforest, causing deforestation and habitat loss for many species.

In addition, mining operations can lead to soil erosion, water contamination, and pollution, further harming the delicate ecosystem of Indonesia's tropical rainforests.

Indonesia's home to the world's largest gold and copper mine, the Grasberg mine, which is located in Papua, the easternmost province of the country.

The massive mine covers approximately 10,000 hectares of land, which is equivalent to 14,285 football pitches.

Grasberg is a major contributor to Indonesia's economy, providing sustainable revenue and employment.

However, its size and scale come with serious environmental consequences.

The mine has caused significant deforestation in the area, leading to habitat destruction and increased pollution.

The extraction process also produces large amounts of waste, which can contaminate surrounding rivers and soils.

What is the name of the world's largest gold and copper mine? Is it, A, Grasberg mine, located in Papua, B, Goldstrike mine, located in Papua, or, C, Grassstrike mine, located in Papua? Pause the video here whilst you decide and press play when you're ready to continue.

Excellent.

The answer is, A, Grasberg mine, located in Papua.

Well done.

True or false, mining does not contribute much to Indonesia's economy.

This is why mining is not a big industry in Indonesia.

Pause the video here whilst you decide and press play when you're ready to continue.

Excellent.

The answer is false.

I would now like you to explain why this answer is false.

Pause the video here and press play to continue.

Fantastic.

The reason why this answer is false is because mining contributes a significant amount to the Indonesian economy.

It contributes approximately 12% to Indonesia's GDP.

The world's largest gold and copper mine, Grasberg, is located in Papua.

Well done if you manage to explain that correctly.

Energy development in Indonesia plays a major role in the country's growth, and it involves a mix of coal extraction, hydroelectric power, and biomass energy.

However, this development often comes at the cost of Indonesia's precious rainforests.

To make way for energy infrastructure like roads, power stations, and reservoirs, large areas of forest are flooded or cleared.

A prime example of this is the Mentarang Dam in Borneo, which required the clearing of significant forested areas to create its reservoirs.

These large-scale projects disrupt the ecosystems, destroy habitats, and contribute to deforestation.

Indonesia's population has experienced rapid growth over the past few decades, placing significant pressure on land resources.

In 1960, the population was around 87 million, but today, it is such to approximately 277.

5 million.

This sharp increase has driven a high demand for housing, infrastructure, and agricultural land.

One of the most notable projects resulting from this growth is the construction of Indonesia's new capital city, Nusantara, which is being built in the island of Borneo.

The move to Borneo is intended to alleviate congestion in Jakarta and promote more balanced development across the country.

However, this major development comes with concerns.

The construction of Nusantara requires clearing land and resources from the rainforest, potentially contributing to deforestation and disrupting local ecosystems. As Indonesia grows, finding sustainable ways to meet its development needs without further harming its rainforests will be crucial for the country's future.

I would like you to add the missing causes of deforestation in Indonesia to this mind map.

Pause the video here whilst do you attempt this task and press play when you're ready to continue.

Excellent.

The missing labels are subsistence farming, logging, road building, and mineral extraction.

Well done.

How was the construction of Indonesia's new capital city, Nusantara, in Borneo contributing deforestation? Is it, A, it increases tourism, leading to more tree planting, B, large areas of forest are cleared for buildings and roads, C, the government has banned logging to protect the rainforest, D, the new capital is being built without affecting the environment.

Pause the video here whilst you attempt this task and press play when you're ready to continue.

Excellent.

The answer is B.

Large areas of forest are cleared for buildings and roads.

Well done.

I would like you to identify the second largest contributor to deforestation in Indonesia.

Is it, A, commercial agriculture, B, energy development, C, mineral extraction, D, subsistence farming.

Pause the video here and press play when you're ready to continue.

Excellent.

The answer is, D, subsistence farming.

Well done.

I would now like you to complete the table below on causes of deforestation at Indonesia's rainforest.

I would like you to include facts and figures in your answers.

The causes we are going to focus on are commercial farming, subsistence farming, mineral extraction, and energy development.

Pause the video here whilst you attempt this task and press play when you're ready to continue.

Fantastic.

Let's check our answers.

For commercial farming, your description should read like this, large areas of rainforest have been cleared to make way for commercial plantations.

In particular, oil palm.

Each year, over 30,000 hectares of rainforest are cleared for oil palm plantations.

Subsistence farming.

Subsistence farming is where farmers grow food for themselves and their families.

Traditionally, slash-and-burn methods have been used to clear forest to create land for planting crops.

In 2015, over 2.

6 million hectares of land was burned.

Mineral extraction between 2001 and 2023.

Over 700,000 hectares of Indonesian rainforest was cleared for mining.

Indonesia's a leading producer of nickel, much of which comes from the rainforest areas.

The rate of deforestation for nickel extraction doubled between 2020 and 2023.

Energy development.

In addition to mining for coal, vast areas of Indonesia's rainforest are being cut down to supply the rising global market for biomass energy.

Hydroelectric power also leads to deforestation.

The construction of the Mentarang Dam cleared significant areas of the forest to create reservoirs.

Well done in this task.

I hope you manage to include those points in your answer.

We're now going to explore our final question of today's lesson.

What are the impacts of deforestation? I would like you to pause here whilst you have a think what are the impacts of deforestation? Press play when you're ready to continue.

Excellent.

The impacts of deforestation are economic development, soil erosion, contribution to climate change, exploitation of workers, habitat loss, and displacement of indigenous people.

Deforestation in Indonesia has played a significant role in the country becoming the world's leading exporter of palm oil.

Palm oil is a key ingredient in many products, from fruit to cosmetics.

And the growing demand for it has driven the expansion of palm oil plantations across Indonesia's rainforests.

This booming industry supports around 16 million jobs, providing income for many workers and contributing significantly to Indonesia's economic growth.

Deforestation in Indonesia has serious consequences beyond the loss of biodiversity.

As forests are cleared, the land becomes more vulnerable to environmental risks like landslides and flooding.

Without the trees to anchor the soil and absorb excess water, the landscape becomes unstable, especially during heavy rainfall.

In 2019, deforestation in Borneo contributed to worsening floods in the region.

The removal of large areas of forest increase the severity of floods, devastating communities, homes, and infrastructure.

In addition to the physical risks, deforestation also threatens food security.

The loss of forest disrupts agriculture and the availability of natural resources that local communities depend on for food.

As the land becomes more prone to disasters, it becomes harder for people to grow crops and maintain stable food sources.

Forests play a crucial role in combating climate change as carbon sinks, absorbing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and helping to regulate global temperatures.

However, when forests are cleared, particularly through practises like slash-and-burn for farming, the carbon stored in the trees and soil is released back into the atmosphere.

The process adds significant amounts of carbon to air, contributing to global warming.

In Indonesia, deforestation is a major source of emissions, accounting for about 30% of the country's total emissions.

I would like you to correctly identify how much deforestation contributes to Indonesia's carbon emissions.

Is it, A, 15%, B, 25%, C, 30%, or, D, 65%? Pause the video here whilst you attempt this task and press play when you're ready to continue.

Excellent.

The answer is, C, 30%.

Well done.

Local communities in Indonesia are often exploited by mining and logging companies facing dangerous working conditions and no wages.

Many workers in these industries endure hazardous environment, so safety measures may be inadequate and compensation often minimal.

The situation has further been complicated by the Omnibus Law passed in 2020, which aim to streamline regulations to boost economic growth.

However, the law also relaxed certain environmental protections and weakened workers' rights.

This has raised concerns that it could lead to further exploitation of workers and even more environmental degradation.

Deforestation in Indonesia has devastating impact on biodiversity.

As forests are cleared and fragmented, animals' habitats are reduced, making it increasingly difficult for species to survive.

This fragmentation creates barriers that prevent animals from moving freely, limiting their access to food, shelter, and mating partners.

The Sumatran and Bornean orangutans are both critically endangered and are particularly affected.

These species rely on the dense rainforest of Sumatra and Borneo for food and shelter.

But as their habitats are destroyed and broken up by deforestation, their survival becomes even more uncertain.

Fragmentation also increases the risk of inbreeding and conflict with human settlements, further threatening the iconic species.

The loss of rainforest habitat is not just a threat to orangutans, but to the entire ecosystem, as the delicate balance of the plant and animal life becomes unstable.

Deforestation in Indonesia not only harms the environment, but also displaces indigenous communities, erasing their land rights and threatening the cultural heritage.

As forests are cleared for logging, agriculture and infrastructure development, many indigenous people lose their ancestral lands, which are they have relied on for generations.

One such group is the Hongana Manyawa, an indigenous people living on the Indonesian island of Halmahera.

Their way of life is so deeply connected to the forest as they rely on it for food, shelter, and cultural practises.

However, as deforestation continues, their land is being encroached upon and their ability to sustain traditional lifestyles is increasingly under threat.

True or false, Indonesia's Omnibus Law strengthens workers' rights by increasing wages and job security in industries like mining and palm oil.

Pause the video here whilst you decide if this statement is true or false, and press play when you're ready to continue.

Excellent.

This statement is false.

I would now like you to explain why this statement is false.

Pause the video here and press play when you're ready to continue.

Fantastic.

The reason why the statement is false is because the Omnibus Law reduces environmental regulations and workers' protections to attract companies.

This has led to an increased worker exploitation, particularly in industries linked to deforestation such as palm oil and mining.

Well done if you managed to explain that correctly.

True or false, while deforestation has many negative impacts, clearing forest for commercial agriculture has increased Indonesia's economic development.

Pause the video here whilst you decide if this statement is true or false, and press play when you're ready to continue.

Excellent.

This statement is true.

I would like you to explain why this statement is true.

Pause here and press play when you're ready to continue.

Fantastic.

The reason why the statement is true is because deforestation has enabled Indonesia to become the world's leading producer and exporter of oil palm, employing 16 million people and contributing 4.

5% of the country's GDP.

Well done on this if you managed to explain that correctly.

A potential new gold mine is set to open in Indonesia.

I would like you to use the news article and your own knowledge to assess the potential impact of a new gold mine on people and the environment.

Sofia has said that she's going to mention that indigenous communities may lose their land.

Is that right? Yes, you are correct.

They may lose their land and they may lose their ancestral ties and heritage.

Pause the video here whilst you take a closer look at the news article and read it, and use your own knowledge to answer the question on the screen.

Press play when you're ready to check your answers.

Fantastic.

Let's check our answers.

Your answer may include some of the following points.

The new gold mine in Indonesia could have both positive and negative impacts on people and the environment.

On the one hand, the mine promises to bring jobs and economic growth, which could benefit local communities and help Indonesia's economic development.

Deforestation has allowed Indonesia to develop profitable industries such as palm oil exportation, and mining has been part of this growth, with exports of nickel, for example, contributing 9% of Indonesia's GDP in 2022, from 4.

3% in 2020.

So, a new gold mine in a remote area of Borneo could have important local and national benefits.

The mine will also contribute to deforestation, further damaging Indonesia's already shrinking rainforests.

Deforestation destroys habitats and disrupts ecosystem services, affecting biodiversity.

The article mentions the risk of pollution from the mine contaminating water sources, which would be very damaging to both wildlife and local communities.

Indigenous communities in this area could lose their land, as often happens when mining operations take over rainforest areas, which could displace these groups and threaten their way of life.

Even if the mine provided new forms of occupation for local people, reductions in workers' rights in Indonesia might mean these jobs were low paid and dangerous.

Therefore, while a new gold mine would certainly add to Indonesia's economic development, any job created in the local area doesn't seem likely to make up for the loss of indigenous peoples' homes, rights, and way of life.

Economic development also come with huge environmental price tag.

The loss of rainforest habitats would threaten Indonesia's biodiversity, much of which is found nowhere else on earth, and would degrade Indonesia's contribution to the mitigation of climate change, rainforests are a carbon sink, and would make it harder for Indonesia to meet its commitments to reducing carbon emissions.

Well done on this task.

You've done brilliantly.

I hope you managed to include some of those points in your answer.

We've now come to the end of our lesson in deforestation in Indonesia's tropical rainforest.

You've done brilliantly.

But before we end this lesson, let's summarise everything we've learned today.

Indonesia's tropical rainforests are mainly found on the islands of Sumatra, Borneo, and Papua.

These forests are rich in biodiversity.

Deforestation in Indonesia has a range of causes, including subsistence and commercial farming, mineral extraction and energy development.

Deforestation impacts in Indonesia include biodiversity loss, climate change, and soil erosion.

Clearing forests for commercial farming and mining has however contributed to Indonesia's economic development.

Well done on today's lesson.

You've done brilliantly.

I look forward to learning with you again very soon.