Enviro News Asia, Samarinda — The East Kalimantan Provincial Government, the Indonesian Forest Concessionaires Association (APHI), and the Nusantara Nature Conservation Foundation (YKAN) have reinforced their joint commitment to sustainable forest management through a landscape-scale Multi-Business Forestry (MUK) approach in the Wehea–Kelay area.
The commitment was formalized through a multi-stakeholder declaration held in Samarinda on Wednesday (11/2/2026), involving six forest concession holders (PBPH), local government representatives, academics, and development partners.
Head of the East Kalimantan Environmental Agency, Joko Istanto, stated that strengthening multi-stakeholder collaboration is essential to safeguarding the sustainability of the Wehea–Kelay Essential Ecosystem Area (KEE), which is known for its high biodiversity value. He emphasized that the KEE Wehea–Kelay management forum plays a strategic role in ensuring integrated, adaptive, and sustainable area management while protecting ecological functions and community rights.
The East Kalimantan Provincial Government, he added, will continue to enhance policy support, cross-agency coordination, and the integration of regional development programs to ensure that the management of the Wehea–Kelay landscape aligns with the province’s green and low-emission development agenda. He stressed the importance of consistent policies, institutional strengthening, and continuous monitoring and evaluation.
APHI Chairman Soewarso said that the development of a landscape-based MUK approach offers a response to the declining performance of natural forests in recent years. Through MUK, forest utilization is no longer focused solely on timber but also on non-timber forest products, environmental services, carbon, and biodiversity.
He noted that APHI, together with PBPH holders and other stakeholders, continues to promote integrated forestry business models that are closely linked with social forestry and community empowerment. According to him, the landscape approach also opens opportunities for improved market access, green financing, and the development of regional flagship commodities, thereby enhancing the competitiveness of Indonesia’s forestry sector.
YKAN Executive Director Herlina Hartanto described the commitment by six concessions in the Wehea–Kelay landscape as an important initial step toward building balanced landscape governance that integrates economic interests and conservation objectives. She said that landscape-scale MUK development encourages collaboration among concessions, villages, and stakeholders, enabling conservation efforts and economic development to proceed in harmony.
YKAN, she added, will strengthen technical assistance, applied research, and capacity building at the site level to ensure that MUK implementation delivers long-term and sustainable impacts, with ecological, social, and economic benefits distributed fairly.
The joint commitment was signed by six PBPH-HA concession holders: PT Gunung Gajah Abadi, PT Karya Lestari, PT Utama Damai Indah Timber, PT Aditya Kirana Makmur, PT Wana Bakti Persada Utama, and PT Amindo Wana Persada.
The declaration covers ecosystem protection, transparent and accountable governance, strengthened collaboration, business sustainability, and community empowerment. Through synergy among government, the private sector, and conservation organizations, the Wehea–Kelay landscape is expected to serve as a national model for sustainable, landscape-based forest management. (*)
