THE phrase ‘Emerald of the Equator’ no longer applies to Indonesia. Today, Indonesia can boast of a new record: the fastest forest-destroying country, according to the 2008 Guinness Book of Records.

Until 1950, about 84 percent of the country’s lowlands were forests. Indonesia is one of about 10 owners of virgin forestry country. But that was 50 years ago.

Since the start of the New Order (1966-1988), the forests have been cut down. The t