Non-State Environmental Actors in Forest Governance: Greenpeace Indonesia’s Role in Addressing Deforestation
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.70063/sociohumania.v2i2.61Keywords:
Non-State Actors, Forest Governance, Environmental Advocacy, Greenpeace Indonesia, DeforestationAbstract
Deforestation remains a critical environmental and socio-political challenge in Indonesia, driven by economic expansion, weak regulatory enforcement, and competing development priorities. In recent decades, forest governance has increasingly involved non-state environmental actors that operate beyond formal state authority. This study examines the role of Greenpeace Indonesia as a non-state environmental actor in addressing deforestation within Indonesia’s forest governance framework during the period 2023–2025. Employing a qualitative descriptive approach with a library research design, the study analyzes secondary data drawn from academic literature, policy documents, organizational reports, and relevant media sources. The analysis is guided by theoretical perspectives on non-state actors, environmental diplomacy, role theory, and global environmental governance. The findings demonstrate that Greenpeace Indonesia plays a strategic role as an environmental watchdog and norm entrepreneur by conducting research-based advocacy, mobilizing public opinion, and engaging in informal environmental diplomacy. Through transnational campaigns and corporate-targeted advocacy, Greenpeace contributes to shaping environmental norms and influencing both state and corporate behavior related to deforestation. However, its effectiveness is constrained by political resistance, structural power asymmetries, and limited access to formal decision-making processes. This study highlights the significance of civil society actors in forest governance and underscores the need to integrate non-state contributions into more inclusive and accountable environmental governance frameworks.
Downloads
References
Adanma, U. M., & Ogunbiyi, E. O. (2024). Evaluating the effectiveness of global governance mechanisms in promoting environmental sustainability and international relations. Finance & Accounting Research Journal, 6(5), 763. https://doi.org/10.51594/farj.v6i5.1151
Ahmadov, T., Ulp, S., & Gerstlberger, W. (2024). Role of Stakeholder Engagement in Sustainable Development in Estonian Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises. Green and Low-Carbon Economy, 2(4), 277. https://doi.org/10.47852/bonviewglce42022504
Aji, R. H. S., Amin, A., Amelia, E., Budiyah, F., Adelina, J., Aji, R. H. S., Amin, A., Amelia, E., Budiyah, F., & Adelina, J. (2025). Sustainability-Driven Efficiency: Insights from Bank Central Asia Sharia’s Development. Journal of Cultural Analysis and Social Change, 835. https://doi.org/10.64753/jcasc.v10i2.1686
Alonso‐Fradejas, A. (2021). The Rise of Authoritarian Corporate Populism. Latin American Perspectives, 51(6), 32. https://doi.org/10.1177/0094582x211004912
Annisa, M. L., & Yanti, H. B. (2025). The Influence of State Capital Participation, Strategic Orientation, and Accountability on The Financial Performance of State-Owned Enterprises: A Panel Data Fem Analysis (2021–2024). Jurnal Akuntansi Dan Keuangan, 30(2), 129. https://doi.org/10.23960/jak.v30i2.4091
Asiraf, H., Haqqi, H., & Widhiyoga, G. (2023). Enhancing Sustainable Palm Oil Production in West Kalimantan: Paradiplomacy and Solidaridad’s Role in Achieving Environmental Goals. Journal of Paradiplomacy and City Networks, 2(2), 71. https://doi.org/10.18196/jpcn.v2i2.40
Astuti, E. F., Inayah, F., & Dahana, A. (2024). Resonance of Climate Crisis News Discourse in Indonesian Online Media: Reflections on Niklas Luhmann’s Ecological Communication Theory Perspective. CHANNEL Jurnal Komunikasi, 12(1), 66. https://doi.org/10.12928/channel.v12i1.687
Athallah, F. A., Azka, M. F., Hafifah, N., Aisah, S., Agil, Wardani, A. S., & Radmadani, N. A. (2023). The Diplomacy of Pcinu Egypt As The Non-State Actor (2023–2025).
A’yun, A. Q. (2023). Repositioning Environmental NGOs: Either as non-Governmental or Private Sector Organizations. Journal of Social Development Studies, 4(2), 257. https://doi.org/10.22146/jsds.6822
Banso, A. A., Ofonagoro, K. A., Olurin, J. O., Ayodeji, S. A., Ehiaguina, V. E., Ndiwe, T. C., & Daraojimba, C. (2023). Major Corporations and Environmental Advocacy: Efforts In Reducing Environmental Impact in Oil Exploration. Engineering Heritage Journal, 7(1), 45. https://doi.org/10.26480/gwk.01.2023.49.59
Barbosa, A. de S., Crispim, M. C., Silva, L. B. da, Morioka, S. N., & Souza, V. F. de. (2023). Integration of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) criteria: their impacts on corporate sustainability performance. Humanities and Social Sciences Communications, 10(1). https://doi.org/10.1057/s41599-023-01919-0
Boakye, D. J., Tingbani, I., Ahinful, G. S., Damoah, I. S., & Tauringana, V. (2020). Sustainable environmental practices and financial performance: Evidence from listed small and medium‐sized enterprise in the United Kingdom. Business Strategy and the Environment, 29(6), 2583. https://doi.org/10.1002/bse.2522
Brandi, C. (2020). The Interaction of Private and Public Governance: The Case of Sustainability Standards for Palm Oil. European Journal of Development Research, 33(6), 1574. https://doi.org/10.1057/s41287-020-00306-8
Crapa, G., Roma, P., & Bruccoleri, M. (2024). The influence of NGO‐corporate relationship on environmental disclosure: Evidence from the fashion industry. Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management. https://doi.org/10.1002/csr.3056
D’Amato, D., Toppinen, A., & Kozak, R. (2022). The Role of Business in Global Sustainability Transformations. In Routledge eBooks. Informa. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003003588
Dzomonda, O. (2022). Environmental Sustainability Commitment and Access to Finance by Small and Medium Enterprises: The Role of Financial Performance and Corporate Governance. Sustainability, 14(14), 8863. https://doi.org/10.3390/su14148863
Efendi, A., Iskandar, I., Kurniawan, R., & Affandes, M. (2023). Klasifikasi Kebakaran Hutan Riau Menggunakan Random Forest dan Visualisasi Citra Sentinel-2. https://doi.org/10.30865/klik.v4i3.1521
Erwiningsih, W. (2023). Analyzing Drivers and Mitigation of Deforestation for Oil Palm Expansion in Indonesia, 2000-2020. International Journal of Sustainable Development and Planning, 18(11), 3657. https://doi.org/10.18280/ijsdp.181132
Fadillah, M. A., & Azhari, A. F. (2024). Conceptualizing Nature as a Legal Subject: A Comparative Study of Laws Between Indonesia, New Zealand, and Ecuador. JURNAL USM LAW REVIEW, 7(1), 376. https://doi.org/10.26623/julr.v7i1.8880
Feng, T., Qamruzzaman, Md., Sharmin, S. S., & Karim, S. (2024). Bridging Environmental Sustainability and Organizational Performance: The Role of Green Supply Chain Management in the Manufacturing Industry. Sustainability, 16(14), 5918. https://doi.org/10.3390/su16145918
Fitriatul Ulya, V., Abu Bakar, M. Y., & Mas’ud, A. (2025). Reinterpreting Nurcholish Madjid’s Theories Of Secularization: Reapplying These Theories To Indonesia’s Contemporary Islamic Education Curriculum. https://doi.org/10.30868/ei.v14i03.8524
Ghobadi, S., & Sonenshein, S. (2024). Creating Collaboration: How Social Movement Organizations Shape Digital Activism to Promote Broader Social Change. Journal of the Association for Information Systems, 25(3), 781. https://doi.org/10.17705/1jais.00847
Gnych, S., Limberg, G., & Paoli, G. D. (2015). Risky business: Uptake and implementation of sustainability standards and certification schemes in the Indonesian palm oil sector. In Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR) eBooks. https://doi.org/10.17528/cifor/005748
Grabs, J., & Garrett, R. (2023). Goal-Based Private Sustainability Governance and Its Paradoxes in the Indonesian Palm Oil Sector. Journal of Business Ethics, 188(3), 467. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-023-05377-1
Gyamfi, B. A., Agozie, D. Q., Ali, E. B., Bekun, F. V., & Asongu, S. (2024). Assessment of the influence of institutions and globalization on environmental pollution for open and closed economies. Quality & Quantity, 58(5), 4353. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11135-024-01859-0
Hansen, E., Korhonen, J., Panwar, R., & Hakovirta, M. (2022). The Quandary of Sustainability-Oriented Innovations. In Routledge eBooks (p. 185). Informa. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003003588-15
IFADHOH, N., Purnamasari, P. E., Nanang Choiruddin, M., Munir, M., & Sulhan, M. (2025). Pengaruh Green Finance Dan Profitabilitas Terhadap Nilai Perusahaan Dengan Good Corporate Governance Sebagai Variabel Moderasi (Studi Kasus Pada Perusahaan Sektor Consumer Non-Cyclicals Tahun 2020-2023).
Isnaini, D. M. (2021). Indonesia’s Climate Change Policies: Under the Tug of Domestic and International Influences. Jurnal Ilmu Sosial, 1(2), 111. https://doi.org/10.14710/jis.1.2.2021.111-141
Jespersen, K. (2017). Advancing the Payments for Ecosystem Service Discourse through Institutional Theory. Research Portal Denmark, 284. https://local.forskningsportal.dk/local/dki-cgi/ws/cris-link?src=cbs&id=cbs-aaa29234-c9e0-48ee-a83e-8caa3f36e63d&ti=Advancing%20the%20Payments%20for%20Ecosystem%20Service%20Discourse%20through%20Institutional%20Theory
Judijanto, L. (2025). The Advocacy Paradox: How Ngo Campaigns Reshape Palm Oil Policies While Alienating Oil Palm Smallholders. Derecho y Cambio Social., 22(81). https://doi.org/10.54899/dcs.v22i81.3153
Jum’a, L., Zimon, D., & Ikram, M. (2021). A Relationship between Supply Chain Practices, Environmental Sustainability and Financial Performance: Evidence from Manufacturing Companies in Jordan. Sustainability, 13(4), 2152. https://doi.org/10.3390/su13042152
Karjaya, L. P., Satris, R., & Suspiati, S. (2019). Greenpeace, Corporations and Deforestation Crimes: A Case study of Hongkong Shanghai Bank Corporation (HSBC) in Indonesia. Jurnal Hubungan Internasional, 8(2). https://doi.org/10.18196/hi.82157
Khairiza, F., & Kusumasari, B. (2020). Analyzing Political Marketing in Indonesia: A Palm Oil Digital Campaign Case Study. Forest and Society, 4(2), 294. https://doi.org/10.24259/fs.v4i2.9576
Khanna, M. (2020). Growing Green Business Investments in Asia and the Pacific: Trends and Opportunities. https://doi.org/10.22617/wps200357-2
Kristin, N. K. G., Markus, D. P., & Tuasikal, H. (2025). Legal Protection of Customary Forests of the Awyu Tribe in South Papua From a National and International Law Perspective. Jurnal Ius Constituendum, 10(2), 296. https://doi.org/10.26623/jic.v10i2.12042
Laakkonen, A. (2023). On the reconfiguring value creation logic and networks of the forest sector in a changing business environment. Dissertationes Forestales, 2023. https://doi.org/10.14214/df.340
Laraswati, D., Krott, M., Soraya, E., Rahayu, S., Fisher, M. R., Gießen, L., & Maryudi, A. (2022). Nongovernmental organizations as interest groups and their roles in policy processes: Insights from Indonesian forest and environmental governance. Forest and Society, 6(2), 570. https://doi.org/10.24259/fs.v6i2.19125
Lehmen, A. (2020). Populism, Environmental Law, and the Post-Pandemic Order. Revista de Direito Internacional, 17(2). https://doi.org/10.5102/rdi.v17i2.6682
Luttrell, C., Komarudin, H., Zrust, M., Pacheco, P., Limberg, G., Nurfatriani, F., L.R., W., Hakim, I., & Pirard, R. (2018). Implementing sustainability commitments for palm oil in Indonesia: Governance arrangements of sustainability initiatives involving public and private actors. In Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR) eBooks. https://doi.org/10.17528/cifor/006884
Makpotche, M., Bouslah, K., & M’Zali, B. (2024). Corporate governance and green innovation: international evidence. Review of Accounting and Finance, 23(2), 280. https://doi.org/10.1108/raf-04-2023-0137
Mandala, M. H., Muryani, M. A., & Rofiq, M. K. (2025). The Threat of Green Grabbing to Indigenous Peoples’ Rights in the Implementation of Law Number 32 of 2024. JUSTISI, 11(3), 874. https://doi.org/10.33506/js.v11i3.4601
Manoby, W. M., Siscawati, M., & Dewi, K. H. (2023). Papua Special Autonomy in Engagement With Gender, Generations and Deforestation: Insight From Feminist Political Ecology. Jurnal Bina Praja, 15(2), 431. https://doi.org/10.21787/jbp.15.2023.431-442
Marta, A. (2021). Towards Participatory Governance in Overcoming Climate Change: A Study of Stakeholders’ Participation in Forest Governance in Indonesia. Jurnal Public Policy, 7(2), 122. https://doi.org/10.35308/jpp.v7i2.3882
Megawati, S., Herdiansyah, H., Machmud, A., Antriyandarti, E., & Sudirman, S. (2024). Integrating circular economy, digital economy, and social protection policies to drive green business innovation: Insights from Indonesia’s culinary SMEs. Problems and Perspectives in Management, 22(4), 368. https://doi.org/10.21511/ppm.22(4).2024.28
Meidinger, E. (2019). Governance interactions in sustainable supply chain management. In Edward Elgar Publishing eBooks. Edward Elgar Publishing. https://doi.org/10.4337/9781788114738.00011
Mukhlis, M. M., Ayub, Z. A., Maskun, M., & Napang, M. (2023). The Conference of Parties - 27 (COP-27) Agreement As an Instrument of State Policy in Handling Deforestation: A Comparative Study of Sweden and Indonesian Governments. LAW REFORM, 19(1), 1. https://doi.org/10.14710/lr.v19i1.52926
Munir, S., & Ilham, L. (2022). Restrictions to Freedom of Association, Assembly, and Spreading Opinion Post Changes to Community Organizational Law. Constitutionale, 3(1), 1. https://doi.org/10.25041/constitutionale.v3i1.2507
Nazlatunnuha, D. F. (2024). Aktivisme Greenpeace Dalam Mendorong Perusahaan Shell Berkontribusi Pada Perjanjian Paris. Indonesian Journal of International Relations, 8(1), 155. https://doi.org/10.32787/ijir.v8i1.480
Pirard, R., Rivoalen, C., Lawry, S., Pacheco, P., & Zrust, M. (2017). A policy network analysis of the palm oil sector in Indonesia: What sustainability to expect? In Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR) eBooks. https://doi.org/10.17528/cifor/006528
Plourde, Y. (2022). The geographic scope of environmental problems and the impact of internal support on the success of local interventions of international NGOs: The case of Greenpeace. Management International, 26, 130. https://doi.org/10.7202/1098581ar
Pranyoto, P., Ekowanti, M. R. L., Soenyono, S., & Suhardono, E. (2024). Multilevel Environmental Governance in Indonesia: Analysis of Implementation Pathways and Institutional Dynamics. International Journal Of Multidisciplinary Research And Analysis, 7(10). https://doi.org/10.47191/ijmra/v7-i10-46
Putrie, V. D., Putri, F., Hamka, M. H., Lumbantoruan, M. D. H., Novika, K. E., Wardiyah, A. A., & Yusuf, M. (2025). The role of planning document in managing land conversion: the case of indigenous forest conversion in boven digoel regency. IOP Conference Series Earth and Environmental Science, 1498(1), 12013. https://doi.org/10.1088/1755-1315/1498/1/012013
Ramanathan, R., Poomkaew, B., & Nath, P. (2014). The impact of organizational pressures on environmental performance of firms. Business Ethics A European Review, 23(2), 169. https://doi.org/10.1111/beer.12042
Rerung, O. M. (2023). Peran Greenpeace dalam Mengatasi Illegal Logging di Indonesia. TRANSBORDERS International Relations Journal, 6(1), 1. https://doi.org/10.23969/transborders.v6i1.5461
Rijal, N. K., & Hasanah, U. (2023). Global civil society vis-a-vis state and corporation: The challenges of Greenpeace in reducing deforestation in Brazil. In Routledge eBooks (p. 255). Informa. https://doi.org/10.1201/9781003360483-28
Robertua, V. (2019). Environmental Diplomacy: Case Study Of The Eu-Indonesia Palm Oil Dispute. Mandala: Jurnal Ilmu Hubungan Internasional, 2(1), 1. https://doi.org/10.33822/jm.v2i1.917
Rohma, M. N. (2025). Navigating Digital Activism on Environmental Movement: Mining License Grants to Religious Organizations in Indonesia. Insignia Journal of International Relations, 11(2), 184. https://doi.org/10.20884/1.ins.2024.11.2.13533
Rusfiana, Y., & Kurniasih, D. (2024). The Role of Civil Society Organizations in Promoting Social and Political Change in Indonesia. Journal of Ethnic and Cultural Studies, 11(3), 187. https://doi.org/10.29333/ejecs/2154
Samnuzulsari, T., Kristanti, D., Susanto, H., Yudiatmaja, W. E., Yunanto, M. K., Meilinda, S. D., & Akbar, D. (2021). The strategic role of civil society organisations in handling climate change: A case of Riau in Indonesia. IOP Conference Series Earth and Environmental Science, 824(1), 12104. https://doi.org/10.1088/1755-1315/824/1/012104
Sanjaya, H., Kurniawan, A., Ickwantoro, I., Alfansani, A. R., Kusrini, K., & Maulina, D. (2023). Prediksi Jumlah Kejadian Titik Panas Pada Lahan Gambut Di Indonesia Menggunakan Prophet. INFOTECH Journal, 9(2), 354. https://doi.org/10.31949/infotech.v9i2.6073
Siems, E., Seuring, S., & Schilling, L. (2022). Stakeholder roles in sustainable supply chain management: a literature review [Review of Stakeholder roles in sustainable supply chain management: a literature review]. Journal of Business Economics, 93(4), 747. Springer Science+Business Media. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11573-022-01117-5
Siregar, I. F., Ismail, T., Taqi, M., & Soleha, N. (2024). Influence of ESG on Sustainability Reporting: Mediation Rule of Green Innovation and Investor Sentiment. International Journal of Energy Economics and Policy, 14(1), 452. https://doi.org/10.32479/ijeep.14988
Susetyorini, P. (2014). Politik Luar Negeri Indonesia. Gema Keadilan, 1(1), 109. https://doi.org/10.14710/gk.2014.3743
Syaftiani, M., Purnomo, E. P., Redha, Moch. R. M., & Khairunnisa, T. (2025). Indonesia’s strategy to overcome negative campaigns against palm oil as renewable energy. Discover Environment, 3(1). https://doi.org/10.1007/s44274-025-00331-6
Syamsiar, S. (2023). The Role of Digitalization in Enhancing Public Service Effectiveness in Indonesia. Jurnal Ilmiah Ilmu Administrasi Publik, 13(1), 465. https://doi.org/10.26858/jiap.v13i1.51026
Tjoetra, A., Samwil, S., Suadi, S., Khairi, A., Da-oh, P., & Mauliansyah, F. (2024). The gap between ecological violence and social injustice from mining industries in post-conflict West Aceh. SIMULACRA JURNAL SOSIOLOGI, 7(1), 51. https://doi.org/10.21107/sml.v7i1.23057
Trihardianingsih, L., & Permatasari, H. (2024). Prediksi Area Kebakaran Hutan Menggunakan Algoritma Random Forest.
Triyanti, A., Indrawan, M., Nurhidayah, L., & Marfai, M. A. (2023). Introduction. In Environment & policy (p. 1). Springer Nature (Netherlands). https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-15904-6_1
Virgy, M. A., Djuyandi, Y., & Darmawan, W. B. (2020). Strategi Jaringan Advokasi Transnasional Greenpeace Indonesia Terkait Isu Deforestasi Hutan Indonesia oleh Wilmar International. Journal of Political Issues, 1(2), 74. https://doi.org/10.33019/jpi.v1i2.9
Wahyuningrum, I. F. S., Ihlashul’amal, M., Hidayah, R., & Rizkyana, F. W. (2023). Stakeholder Pressure and Its Effect on Sustainability Report. Jurnal Presipitasi Media Komunikasi Dan Pengembangan Teknik Lingkungan, 20(2), 494. https://doi.org/10.14710/presipitasi.v20i2.494-506
Weng, L. S. (2025). Stakeholder Engagement in Sustainable Supply Chain Management: Integrating Sustainability Reporting, Governance, and Corporate Responsibility. SSRN Electronic Journal. https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.5137976
Wijayanti, D. E., & Priyanto, Moh. W. (2022). Pengaruh Urbanisasi terhadap Lahan Garapan di Indonesia. AGRISCIENCE, 3(1), 230. https://doi.org/10.21107/agriscience.v3i1.16679
Yu, L., Kang, X., & Qiu, R. (2025). Unlocking corporate green governance capabilities in China: A supply chain-oriented evaluation based on an improved FBWM-CoCoSo method. International Journal of Industrial Engineering Computations, 16(4), 897. https://doi.org/10.5267/j.ijiec.2025.8.010
Zahid, M., Martins, J. M., Rahman, H. U., Mata, M. N., Shah, S. A., & Mata, P. N. (2021). The Interconnection between Decent Workplace and Firm Financial Performance through the Mediation of Environmental Sustainability: Lessons from an Emerging Economy. Sustainability, 13(8), 4570. https://doi.org/10.3390/su13084570
