( CNN ) -- Rainforest covers 60 percent of Indonesia , yet this developing country is among the world 's highest carbon emitters . The reason : it has one of the world 's fastest rates of deforestation , mainly for palm oil production . As trees are felled , the carbon stored in them and the soil is released into the atmosphere . The United Nations Environment Program estimated that between 2003 and 2006 , deforestation and forest degradation reached 1.17 million hectares per year . Louis Verchot , a leading climate scientist , in Indonesia to measure carbon emissions through deforestation , illustrated the problem . `` Around us here we have a very young oil palm plantation and around the oil palms you can see the stumps of the trees , this area was probably logged between three and five years ago , '' he said . `` We 're trying to understand how this change from forest through degradation to oil palm affects the emission of greenhouse gases . '' But there is a solution , in the form of the United Nations program Reducing Emissions from Deforestation ( REDD , which has Indonesia as one of its pilot countries . Through REDD , Norway has pledged to give Indonesia up to one billion dollars if it can prove a reduction in its emissions and halt deforestation . As part of its new commitments , in January 2011 Indonesia begins a two-year ban on any new clearing of forests . Agus Purnomo , National Council on Climate Change , Indonesia , said : `` If you are living in area where there are no other economic activities you are bound to cut the trees . `` But if there are other economic activities which will be created by this financial assistance then the local communities , the local companies and the local governments will be able to continue their economic development activities without damaging the forests . '' However , there is one group that has yet to be convinced , and that is Indonesia 's indigenous population . Untung Abdullah , a spokesman for the Orang Rimba people , whose forest homeland has all but disappeared and who are now living in a state-controlled park , said : `` The forest is very important for the Orang Rimba . We 're born in the forest . The huge woods are our home . `` We want the government to provide us with a reserve area so we can manage the land by ourselves and not break government regulations . '' Mina Setra , of AMAN , the Indigenous People 's Alliance , added : `` Indigenous peoples in Indonesia have experienced massive encroachment of their land and territories . `` When their territories change into something else that they do n't understand like oil palm plantations it really has a big impact on their livelihoods . `` For us forests belong to us because they are in our territories . We existed before Indonesia exists , before our country exists . '' Purnomo knows he must win over these objections if the ban on deforestation is to be a success . He said : `` What I say to them is let 's give this initiative the benefit of the doubt . If they just want to sit back and protest we will only be able to deliver partial success . `` We can build both economic benefits to local people today , while preserving the livelihood with the same high quality of life for future generations . We could really make this breakthrough a reality . '' Verchot , too , is optimistic the policy can be a success . He is trying to measure the emissions caused by a change from forest to palm oil plantations to give solid data on Indonesia 's carbon emissions . `` I think we 're at a turning point , '' said Verchot . `` A lot has changed but we 're not quite there yet . `` Scientifically , technically we can do this -- there 's not a problem that resources and a little bit of time ca n't solve . But there are problems I think that require still more changes in political will to push us over the finish line . '' Purnomo added : `` It should be a no-brainer for decision-makers of the world to choose working on reducing emissions in Indonesia , because it delivers three things instead of one : it reduces emissions ; it alleviates poverty and it conserves biological diversity . `` Why is it so difficult ? Let 's make it happen . '' Catriona Davies contributed to this report .
Deforestation reached 1.17 million hectares per year , between 2003 and 2006 . The AMAN program , Verchot from Deforestation , has Indonesia as one of its pilot countries . In two-year , Indonesia begins a January 2011 ban on any new clearing of forests .