Enviro News Asia, Wonosobo — Environment Minister and Head of the Environmental Control Agency (KLH/BPLH) Moh Jumhur Hidayat highlighted Wonosobo’s potential to develop sustainable economic opportunities through carbon trading and environmentally based tourism during a working visit to Central Java on August 8–9, 2026.
During his visit, Jumhur engaged with residents at the peak celebration of Wonosobo Regency’s 201st anniversary on Saturday, August 8, before attending the annual Hot Air Balloon Festival at Wonosobo Square on Sunday, August 9.
Jumhur said Wonosobo has significant potential to generate additional economic value through carbon trading, supported by its extensive vegetation, forest areas and community participation in reforestation activities.
“There is enormous potential in carbon trading. Carbon trading is comparable to trading the value of oxygen, where oxygen generated through tree planting activities can be compensated through financial value,” Jumhur said.
He emphasized that KLH/BPLH is committed to ensuring that carbon trading mechanisms are implemented transparently so that the economic benefits can reach local communities.
The initiative is aligned with efforts by Wonosobo Regent Afif Nurhidayat to encourage residents to plant hundreds of thousands of coffee trees on the slopes of Mount Sindoro and Mount Sumbing. The program is intended to support ecosystem balance while improving land productivity and providing economic benefits for communities.
Jumhur also highlighted the potential for developing environmentally based tourism, or eco-tourism, in Wonosobo.
While attending the Hot Air Balloon Festival, he said the annual event has strong tourism potential and could attract both domestic and international visitors while creating opportunities for sustainable local economic development.
“I am thinking about eco-tourism, which is tourism connected to the preservation and improvement of the environment. I have also discussed this with the Wonosobo Regent and local community leaders,” Jumhur said.
According to KLH/BPLH, tourism based on natural beauty and environmental conservation can become a competitive advantage for regions while improving the welfare of surrounding communities.
The ministry said stronger cooperation between the central and local governments could help regions across Indonesia develop into more advanced and economically independent tourism destinations while maintaining ecological sustainability for future generations. (*)
