Afforestation is introduced by the government to protect forests to a certain extent. However, there are limitations as well. There are other measures that the government introduced to protect the forests- controlled logging, conservation and controlling forest fires.
In afforestation, trees are planted in areas that were not originally covered with forests. Usually carried out in abandoned farmland. Trees are also planted in formerly forested areas that have been cleared by logging, which known as reforestation. Teak trees are commonly planted. Teak is commercially valuable and grows well in tropical rainforests. Teak grows fast and takes about five years before it is suitable for logging, as compared to about 20 years for other types of trees. Reforestation of forests has been possible in areas where the locals were actively involved in the projects. However, the rates at which forests are replanted are slower than the rates at which they are cleared because the incentives given to the locals in replanting the trees are not attractive enough. E.g. In East Kalimantan, replanting has covered only 90,000 square kilometres while the area reduced by deforestation is 250,000 square kilometres in 2000-01.
Controlled logging is encouraged by MOF to minimize the damage caused by logging in rainforests to ensure carefully logging. Measures such as law enforcement, as well as education and research are taken to make sure the timber companies understand the extent of damage. Severe penalties are enforced on irresponsible timber companies. Selective cutting ensures that only commercially valuable trees are first identified and then logged. Selective cutting enabled forests to regenerate, new trees able to replace old trees. Soil erosion is also minimized. It is difficult to monitor logging and detect illegal logging activities due to the lack of manpower and remoteness of some forested areas. Selective cutting may be as damaging as clear cutting. Neighbouring trees are pulled down when trees are connected via lianas.
Conservation prevents high conservation value forested areas to be converted into agricultural land uses for commercial purposes. The Betung Kerihun Reserve is the largest nature reserve in West Kalimantan. It covers a total area of 8000 square kilometres. It is home to a diverse range of animals and extends into Brunei and Malaysia, which referred to as the ‘Heart of Borneo’. Many species of flora and fauna are protected as their habitats are destroyed. Illegal logging activities can still go on undetected, due to the vastness of the nature reserve and the remoteness of the logging sites. The problem of monitoring of nature reserve is often compounded by the lack of manpower to check illegal logging in the large reserve.
The Indonesian government has implemented a policy that makes it illegal to clear forests by burning. The government has introduced measures to monitor forest fires through an Integrated Forest Fires Protection System and a National Fire Management Plan. To educate the people on the impacts forest fires, the government has conducted annual forest fire awareness campaign to discourage the local people from using fire to clear forests for farmland. However, haze continues to occur annually in Southeast Asia. Some plantation companies continue to burn the forests because it is the cheapest way to clear land. Many people are reluctant to stop the burning of forests as it is a cheap and fast method of clearing land for agriculture.