Enviro News Asia, New York — Indonesia strengthened its forestry diplomacy and forest-based carbon trade agenda through the Business Forum on Carbon Market held in New York, United States, on Monday, May 11, 2026, as part of the United Nations Forum on Forests (UNFF) 2026 series.
The forum brought together government representatives, forestry companies, international investors, emissions trading associations, and strategic partners to discuss opportunities for developing Indonesia’s forestry carbon projects and sustainable forest management initiatives.
Indonesian Minister of Forestry Raja Juli Antoni stated that Indonesia has entered a new era of forest management that no longer relies solely on timber production, but also on carbon value, environmental services, biodiversity, and community-based green economy development.
According to the minister, Indonesia’s approximately 120 million hectares of tropical forests represent one of the world’s most important climate assets and position the country as a key contributor to global climate solutions.
“Indonesia’s forests are ready to become a destination for global investment,” Raja Juli Antoni said during the Indonesia–IETA and Indonesia America Chamber of Commerce (IACC) Business Forum in New York.
He explained that the government recently issued Ministerial Regulation No. 6 of 2026 to strengthen the governance of the forestry carbon market through a transparent, integrated, and legally certain framework. The regulation also supports the implementation of Multi-Business Forestry (MUK), a new sustainable forest management approach that integrates timber products, non-timber forest products, environmental services, ecotourism, and carbon trading within forest areas.
“Indonesia is not asking for sympathy, but offering partnerships backed by strong government commitment, legal certainty, and extraordinary biodiversity resources,” the minister said.
Raja Juli Antoni added that the initiative forms part of Indonesia’s broader strategy to support the national FOLU Net Sink 2030 target while increasing the competitiveness of green investment in international markets.
Director General of Sustainable Forest Management Laksmi Wijayanti emphasized that Indonesia is opening broader global partnerships to strengthen carbon trading and nature-based financing through sustainable forestry management.
She noted that around 63 percent of Indonesia’s land area remains forested, providing a significant foundation for the development of a green forestry economy.
“Indonesia is currently developing a multi-business forestry management model, where carbon becomes one of the economic values complementing sustainable forest management alongside timber products, non-timber forest products, environmental services, and community economic empowerment,” Laksmi said.
Chairman of the Indonesian Forestry Concession Holders Association (APHI) Soewarso described the issuance of Ministerial Regulation No. 6 of 2026 as a major milestone in accelerating Indonesia’s forestry carbon market while providing stronger legal certainty for businesses developing high-integrity carbon projects.
Meanwhile, APHI Secretary General Purwadi Soeprihanto stated that Indonesia’s forestry concession areas possess enormous potential for carbon initiatives, including approximately 48.69 million hectares suitable for greenhouse gas emission reduction projects and around 3.5 million hectares for carbon removal projects.
He stressed that carbon projects should be integrated into broader sustainable forestry and landscape management strategies supported by international investment and collaboration.
The business forum was attended by Indonesian government officials, forestry industry representatives, global investors, emissions trading organizations, and strategic partners from the United States. Through the event, Indonesia reaffirmed its commitment to positioning the forestry sector as a major pillar of global climate mitigation efforts while expanding opportunities for sustainable green investment partnerships. (*)
