Enviro News Asia, Belém — Indonesia strengthened its global leadership in sustainable forest management and low-carbon development at the 30th UN Climate Change Conference (COP30) through two major sessions highlighting regenerative forestry and multi-stakeholder collaboration.
In the talk show “Regenerative Forestry Business: A Bridge to Low-Carbon Development and Social Equity in Indonesia”, Director General of Sustainable Forest Management, Laksmi Wijayanti, emphasized the importance of Regenerative Forestry Business as a strategic model to align low-carbon growth with social equity.
According to Laksmi, the government is preparing green policy packages and incentives to boost environmentally friendly investments and foster partnerships between the private sector and forest communities.
“Regenerative forestry is not only about preserving forest cover but also about creating fair and sustainable economic value through non-timber forest products, agroforestry, and social forestry,” she said.
Laksmi added that regenerative forestry models place communities at the core of inclusive value chains. By developing forest-based commodities such as forest coffee, certified organic honey, and essential oils from endemic plants, Indonesia demonstrates that forests can drive welfare while maintaining ecological integrity.
The session also featured Silverius Oscar Unggul (Chief Advisor to the Minister for Regenerative Forestry Task Force), Arlyza Eka Wijayanti (Operations Director of PT Pupuk Kujang), Purwadi Soeprihanto (Secretary General of APHI), and Daan Wensing (CEO of IDH), who highlighted the importance of cross-sector collaboration to scale up regenerative forestry principles nationwide.
“Strong partnerships will ensure that Indonesia’s green transition not only reduces carbon emissions but also delivers social justice for communities around forests,” Laksmi concluded.
In another key session, Asia Pulp & Paper (APP) Group, alongside WWF Indonesia, GenZero, and CIFOR–ICRAF, convened for a dialogue on “Regenerating Forests and Empowering Local Communities”, moderated by Dominic Waughray, Executive Vice President of the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD).
The session underscored Indonesia’s role as a global leader in tropical forest conservation and community empowerment. Panelists included Elim Sritaba (Chief Sustainability Officer, APP Group), Aditya Bayunanda (Director, WWF Indonesia), Anshari Rahman (Director, GenZero), Beria Leimona (Theme Leader, CIFOR–ICRAF), and Catarina Correa (Executive Manager, Bayer).
“Through our Forest Positive Policy under the Regenesis platform, we align business growth with real benefits for people and the planet. This can only be achieved through strong collaboration between government, civil society, and industry,” said Elim Sritaba.
APP Group also announced a US$30 million annual commitment over ten years to support forest landscape restoration, biodiversity enhancement, and community welfare across its operational areas.
Meanwhile, WWF Indonesia and CIFOR–ICRAF highlighted the importance of focusing on community needs, biodiversity, and ecosystem services beyond carbon—such as water and culture—while ensuring local participation in decision-making.
Through these sessions, Indonesia reaffirmed its commitment to becoming a pioneer in regenerative forestry and inclusive green economy, demonstrating that forest conservation and economic prosperity can advance hand in hand. (*)
