Community control of forests hasn’t slowed deforestation, Indonesia study finds

JAKARTA — A “social forestry” program administered by the Indonesian government to grant land rights to communities has not been effective in preventing deforestation, and in some cases has even seen the problem get worse, a new study shows. The program is one of the largest socioenvironmental experiments of its kind, aiming to reallocate 12.7 million hectares (31.4 million acres) of state forest to local communities and given them the legal standing to manage their forests. Under the program, the government has granted land titles for 4.7 million hectares (11.6 million acres) of state forest …

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