Enviro News Asia, Belém — The role of Indonesia’s private sector in advancing global climate action once again drew attention at the 30th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP30). During a series of high-level dialogues involving governments, international organizations, conservation groups, financial institutions, and global industry leaders, APP Group reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening nature-based climate solutions, carbon market integrity, and tropical forest restoration through integrated landscape approaches and multi-stakeholder partnerships.
As a natural resource–based company, APP Group emphasized that ecosystem health is the foundation of industrial sustainability. Suhendra Wiriadinata, Director of APP Group, stated that sustainability is now an integral part of the company’s business strategy. “The pulp and paper industry can only grow on healthy landscapes. Therefore, investments in restoration, monitoring technologies, and multi-stakeholder collaboration are business strategies that strengthen supply chain resilience, reduce operational risks, and build global market confidence in Indonesian products,” he said.
Through the Regenesis sustainability platform, APP Group continues its landscape transformation from the Forest Conservation Policy (2013) to a Forest Positive Policy. This framework directs an investment of US$30 million annually for a decade to ecosystem restoration, peatland management, biodiversity conservation, blue carbon development, and community livelihood enhancement across its operational landscapes. These commitments support Indonesia’s FOLU Net Sink 2030 target, the implementation of Article 6 of the Paris Agreement, and carbon market governance under IDXCarbon.
Stakeholders at COP30 stressed that effective tropical forest restoration requires scientific rigor, social legitimacy, and long-term financing. Aditya Bayunanda, CEO of WWF Indonesia, highlighted that private sector interventions must be strategically located. “Choose areas with critical habitats, high biodiversity, or diverse ecosystem services—not only carbon, but water and cultural values that must be protected. These areas create added value and distinguish companies globally,” he said.
Beria Leimona, Theme Leader at CIFOR–ICRAF, emphasized that collaboration succeeds when it is socially relevant and community-driven. “Beyond science-based solutions, we must consider legitimacy. Listening to local ecological knowledge and involving communities in negotiation processes is essential. Ultimately, true collaboration is grounded in empowerment,” she noted.
This collaborative spirit was strengthened through the launch of the Tropical Forests Forever Facility (TFFF) at the Indonesia Pavilion. The long-term financing initiative involves the Governments of Indonesia, Brazil, and the United Arab Emirates, the energy sector, international institutions, and the private sector to accelerate large-scale conservation and forest restoration.
In her keynote remarks, Nani Hendiarti, Deputy Coordinating Minister for Food Accessibility and Security, emphasized that community-based solutions form the core of sustainability. She explained that Indonesia and the UAE are developing a Nature and Climate Partnership covering biodiversity conservation, social forestry, jurisdictional governance, and innovative financing mechanisms.
“Protecting forests is not just about planting trees—it is about ensuring that forest-dependent communities receive real benefits,” she said.
From a national policy perspective, Laksmi Wijayanti, Director General of Sustainable Forest Management, stressed the importance of financing innovation and cross-sector collaboration in restoring ecosystems. “We need collaboration, innovation, and trust. Carbon finance and blended funding can bridge global capital with local action. When implemented with integrity, these mechanisms can restore millions of hectares, support local livelihoods, and strengthen the credibility of nature-based climate solutions,” she stated.
Responding to the global collaborative momentum, Elim Sritaba, Chief Sustainability Officer of APP Group, underscored that climate governance cannot rely on a single approach.
“Today’s climate challenges cannot be solved by any single pathway. We need the integration of science, strong governance, and equitable partnerships with communities and governments. Through the Regenesis framework, we ensure that every decision is grounded in scientific evidence while remaining sensitive to social realities. This is what makes climate action consistent and sustainable,” she said.
By combining modern monitoring technologies, science-based approaches, community empowerment, and multi-stakeholder partnerships, APP Group is strengthening Indonesia’s contribution to global tropical forest stewardship. The company’s presence at COP30 reflects a long-term commitment to ecosystem protection, high-integrity carbon markets, and the ability of the industrial sector to contribute meaningfully to climate resilience and national development. (*)
