Enviro News Asia, Jakarta— Indonesia’s Vice Minister of Forestry, Rohmat Marzuki, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to placing communities at the center of forest conservation, announcing a target to designate 1.4 million hectares of customary forests by 2029.
The statement was delivered during a talk show and photo exhibition themed “Indonesia’s Forests in the Hands of Communities”, organized by Forest Watch Indonesia in Jakarta.
Rohmat emphasized that customary territories are not merely management areas but integral parts of social, cultural, and ecological systems. He noted that the target reflects a broader transformation toward inclusive forest governance while strengthening Indonesia’s contribution to global climate stability.
He reported that, to date, the Ministry of Forestry has designated 169 customary forests covering approximately 366,955 hectares across 43 districts and 20 provinces, benefiting around 88,949 households.
To accelerate progress, the government has established a dedicated task force through Ministerial Decree No. 121 of 2026. The task force operates through a cross-sectoral approach involving ministries, local governments, academia, and civil society organizations.
Beyond land recognition, the government is promoting a restorative economy approach, aiming not only to generate economic benefits but also to restore ecosystem functions. Support measures include access to financing, forest-based enterprises, and market access for indigenous communities.
The policy aligns with Indonesia’s commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to 43.2 percent with international support by 2030, with the forestry sector playing a central role.
More broadly, Indonesia’s social forestry program has reached 8.3 million hectares, involving more than 1.4 million households nationwide.
Through an Integrated Area Development approach based on commodity clusters, the government aims to integrate customary areas into national spatial planning, strengthening long-term food, energy, and water security.
Rohmat concluded that the success of forest governance should be measured not only by the extent of forest preservation but also by its ability to deliver sustainable benefits for communities and the global environment. (*)
