Regulatory framework and initiatives for realizing SDGs in achieving sustainable forest management: a comparison between Indonesia and Malaysia

There have been numerous literatures on sustainable forest management and its relation to sustainable development goals. However, the comparative studies on regulatory framework and initiatives for realizing Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and sustainable forest management remain underexplored, particularly with the recent development of legal systems and policy in Malaysia and Indonesia. This research aims to identify and compare the regulatory framework and government initiatives in Malaysia and Indonesia for the realization of SDGs with special reference to sustainable forest management by addressing deforestation and other relevant problems. The research shows that in developing the SDGs, the Indonesian government tends to overlap in formulating its regulations. The majority of initiatives built before and after implementing a sustainable forest management model in Indonesia are very much in line with what the SDGs has been aspired. The cause of the decline in forest management in Indonesia is the regulation that made beyond the realm of forest management. The vision and attempt of the Malaysian government, on the other hand, to achieve sustainable development status by 2020 are stated clearly but the results remain debateable which is similar to those of Indonesia. © The Authors.