Introduction

The introduction explains why a critical analysis of anti-deforestation efforts in the tropics is vital in this hyper-capitalist age of looming climate breakdown. The centrality of such efforts to contemporary global climate change mitigation is covered, as are global deforestation trends and drivers in an historic perspective. The reason behind the focus of the book on Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD+) is explained, as is the relevance of the country case of Indonesia for understanding REDD+ performance. Finally, the importance of understanding how political contestations shape, and are shaped by, anti-deforestation efforts is introduced.