The Indonesian government has launched an investigation into 12 companies suspected of responsibility for the devastating floods and landslides in Sumatra. In November 2024, after Cyclone Senyar swept through northern Sumatra, at least 836 people were killed and 518 remain missing across North Sumatra, West Sumatra, and Aceh provinces. The probe began as decades of deforestation are believed to have worsened the disaster’s impact. Forestry Minister Raja Juli Antoni told parliament a full review of forest management is underway, with a possible moratorium on new concessions and license revocations for companies breaking the law. Rescue teams continue searching the debris as the government faces mounting public anger demanding accountability [1][2][3][4].
Sumatra Loses Forests Faster Than Switzerland Disappears
Images of massive tree trunks washed up by floodwaters have circulated nationwide. For environmentalists, this is proof that deforestation and disaster are closely linked. David Gaveau of Nusantara Atlas reports that since 2001, Sumatra has lost 4.4 million hectares of forest—an area larger than Switzerland. In 2024 alone, over 240,000 hectares of primary forest vanished, warns the Indonesian Forum for the Environment. The group WALHI is unequivocal: “Decades of deforestation driven by mining, palm oil plantations, and illegal logging have stripped the region of natural barriers that once absorbed rainfall and stabilized the soil” [1][4][5].
Sumatra Loses Forests Faster Than Switzerland Disappears
Bahlil Lahadalia, the energy minister, has warned that mining companies violating regulations will lose their licenses. The list includes PT Agincourt Resources, operator of the Martabe gold mine in the Batang Toru ecosystem. The company says it supports the government audit and complies with the law, but disputes any direct link between its operations and the flooding. Environmental experts disagree. They argue that large-scale forest clearing intensified the cyclone’s effects by increasing surface runoff and destabilizing the soil. “This disaster was not just nature’s fury—it was amplified by decades of deforestation”, says Rianda Purba of WALHI. After visiting flood-stricken communities, President Prabowo Subianto has pledged reforms: “We must truly prevent deforestation and forest destruction. Protecting our forests is crucial” [2][3][4][6].