Enviro News Asia, Belém — Indonesia’s efforts to enhance tropical forest restoration and expand cross-border partnerships took center stage at the 30th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP30). During a dedicated dialogue on the launch of the Tropical Forests Forever Facility (TFFF), representatives from governments, international organizations, the energy sector, civil society, and the private sector discussed the importance of collaborative financing and global cooperation to support long-term forest landscape restoration and climate resilience.
Throughout previous sessions at COP30, APP Group highlighted the critical role of partnerships between governments, the private sector, international institutions, civil society organizations, and local communities in safeguarding the sustainability of tropical forest ecosystems. Such collaborative approaches align closely with Indonesia’s ambition to achieve the FOLU Net Sink 2030 target and support the policy direction of the Second Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) for 2031–2035.
In her keynote remarks, Nani Hendiarti, Deputy Coordinating Minister for Accessibility and Food Security, emphasized that community-based solutions form the foundation of successful restoration efforts. She explained that the Government of Indonesia and the United Arab Emirates are preparing a new initiative, the Nature and Climate Partnership, which includes forest restoration, biodiversity conservation, and pilot Public-Private-Community Partnership (PPCP) projects.
“We are developing a jurisdictional governance framework that integrates carbon pricing, inclusive governance, and social forestry programs, supported by innovative financing mechanisms to accelerate restoration investments,” she stated. Nani also underscored that forest protection is not solely about planting trees but about safeguarding the communities who live in harmony with forests.
A central focus of the discussions was the launch of the Tropical Forests Forever Facility (TFFF) at the Indonesia Pavilion on 14 November. The initiative aims to strengthen financing for tropical forest conservation and restoration while expanding cooperation among countries with significant tropical forest territories.
The session, titled “Nature and Climate Action: Conserving Tropical Forests for Ecosystem Services and Climate,” featured the following speakers:
- Nani Hendiarti – Deputy Coordinating Minister for Accessibility and Food Security, Indonesia
- Mohammed Saeed Sultan Al Nuaimi – Assistant Undersecretary, Ministry of Climate Change and Environment, United Arab Emirates
- Elim Sritaba – Chief Sustainability Officer, APP Group
- Andre Aquino – Head of the Office for Economic and Environmental Affairs, Ministry of Environment and Climate Change, Brazil
- Wenny Irawan – Senior Vice President of HSSE, PT Pertamina (Persero)
- Annisa Ayu Soraya – Vice President of Research and Product Development, PT ID Survey (Persero)
- Catherine Diam-Valla – Climate Change Technical Specialist, UNDP
The forum underscored the shared responsibility of Indonesia and Brazil as the world’s two largest tropical forest nations and the importance of strengthening inclusive, long-term partnership models for restoration.
“Brazil’s leadership in launching the Tropical Forests Forever Facility represents a significant step toward strengthening financing and collaboration for large-scale tropical forest protection,” said Elim Sritaba, Chief Sustainability Officer of APP Group.
“This initiative demonstrates that effective climate action requires coordinated financing, inclusive partnerships, and a shared commitment to sustainable land-use practices. We believe the momentum created by Brazil can inspire similar collaborative frameworks in Indonesia, strengthening restoration programs and generating long-term environmental and social benefits,” she added.
Andre Aquino, Head of the Office for Economic and Environmental Affairs at Brazil’s Ministry of Environment and Climate Change, emphasized the importance of financial innovation for long-term conservation.
“We are talking about forests and new sources of financing to mobilize long-term funding for tropical forest conservation. We need predictable, sustainable, performance-based financial flows at a scale capable of driving real change. The launch of TFFF is a major step forward, but much work remains, and we hope all countries will engage and contribute to its success,” Aquino stated.
Through its engagement at COP30, APP Group reaffirmed its long-term commitment to forest restoration under its Regenesis program, including an allocation of US$30 million per year for a decade to support landscape restoration, biodiversity conservation, and community livelihood enhancement across its operational areas. (*)
