Studi empiris ini bermaksud menginvestigasi dampak dan hubungan antara urbanisasi dan deforestasi di Asia Tenggara menggunakan data dari sembilan negara periode 1996 – 2018. Metode estimasi Pooled Mean Group (PMG) digunakan untuk menyelidiki hubungan jangka panjang. Hasil studi mengkonfirmasi bahwa hubungan antara urbanisasi dengan deforestasi tidak linier, tetapi mengikuti kurva U-terbalik. Urbanisasi menyebabkan deforestasi pada tahap pembangunan awal, kemudian mencapai ambang batas, dan pada gilirannya mendorong luas tutupan hutan meningkat. Titik balik terjadi ketika level urbanisasi mencapai 73,26%. Dibutuhkan integrasi kuat antara kebijakan pembangunan kota dan tata kelola hutan untuk mengurangi potensi dampak negatif urbanisasi terhadap deforestasi.

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This empirical study proposes to investigate the effect and relationship between urbanization and deforestation in Southeast Asia using data from nine countries for the period 1996 – 2018. The Pooled Mean Group (PMG) estimation method is employed to investigate the long-term relationship. The study results confirm that the relationship between urbanization and deforestation is non-linear, but follows an inverted U-curve. Urbanization causes deforestation in the early stages of development, then reaches a threshold, and in turn causes forest cover to increase. The turning point occurred when the level of urbanization reached 73.26%. Strong integration between urban development policies and forest governance is required to reduce the potential negative impacts of urbanization on deforestation