Sustainable management of plantation forests should embrace the interests of the planet - conserving biodiversity and preventing environmental degradation; the people - providing opportunities for social development and poverty alleviation; and profit - ensuring a steady supply of renewable, high quality, internationally cost-effective fibre. Options for managing plantations in this way are considered. The sustainability of plantation forests is threatened by improper management of monocultures, fire and illegal logging. This paper outlines ways of combating these threats through effective forest management and a multi-stakeholder approach to ending illegal logging. Interdisciplinary research will continue to play a role in the current and future establishment of industrial forests in Indonesia.
