The importance of trees is when we imagine a world without them.
In many cases, the people who live in a forested area do not have legal rights to the property. They are there simply because their ancestors were there, and because the land remains suitable enough to sustain continued generations over time. Companies that want to develop these regions sometimes make efforts to help native people transition into a more industrial lifestyle, but often, groups are simply pushed out of the way onto different land. These individuals generally have to adapt quickly to survive, and even when they do, the changes they accept often put them at risk of losing their traditional ways of life.
Indonesia's Indigenous Population is not pleased with what is happening to their home. They want the government to provide them with a reserve area to manage their own land without breaking any government regulations. This has huge impacts on their livelihoods due to the fact that they have experienced massive encroachment of their land and territories, which are changed into other things that they don't want, such as oil palm plantations.
Deforestation reduces soil cohesion and the content of water in the soil, making it so that erosion of the top soil, flooding and land sliding can ensue. Soil erosion can also lead to silt entering the lakes, streams, and other water sources. This can decrease local water quality, contributing to poor health in the local population.