Enviro News Asia, Jakarta — The Ministry of Forestry emphasized the strengthening of Indonesia’s legal certainty for carbon markets through the implementation of Presidential Regulation No. 110/2025, which serves as the main foundation for carbon trading mechanisms in the forestry sector. Deputy Minister of Forestry Rohmat Marzuki stated that the regulation marks a significant milestone ensuring that all forestry-based carbon units—from reforestation and mangrove restoration to agroforestry—can be traded in both domestic and international markets.
As part of its readiness, the Ministry of Forestry has aligned several key regulations, including revisions to Ministerial Regulation 7/2023 on Carbon Trading Procedures in Forestry, Ministerial Regulation 8/2021 on Forest Management Planning and Zoning, Ministerial Regulation 9/2021 on Social Forestry, as well as a new regulation on environmental services utilization within conservation areas. “These steps ensure clear and integrated regulatory pathways to fully support the implementation of the national carbon market,” Rohmat said when opening the Global Carbon Summit Indonesia 2025 in Jakarta on Wednesday (26/11).
The international forum was organized by Ecobiz Asia in collaboration with the Indonesian Forest Entrepreneurs Association (APHI). Also present were the Deputy for Climate Change Control and Carbon Economic Value Governance, Ary Sudijanto—representing Minister of Environment Hanif Faisol Nurofiq—and APHI Chairperson Dr. Soewarso.
Rohmat stressed that the development of carbon economic value instruments is part of Indonesia’s broader strategy to position nature-based solutions (NbS) as a driver of green growth. Beyond emission reductions in 48.69 million hectares of forested land, Indonesia is preparing opportunities through afforestation, reforestation, and revegetation across at least 12 million hectares.
On the social front, Rohmat highlighted 8.3 million hectares of social forestry areas and the government’s plan to formally recognize 1.4 million hectares of customary forests over the next four years as community-based carbon pillars. “This opens vast opportunities for fair and inclusive carbon schemes that deliver tangible benefits to forest-dependent communities,” he said.
He also underscored the Ministry’s strengthened global partnerships, including cooperation with IETA and ICVCM, to enhance technical capacity, expand access to knowledge, and increase Indonesia’s connectivity with international carbon markets. Rohmat reiterated that the Ministry’s future strategy includes regulatory clarity, adoption of globally recognized MRV standards, technological integration, and mobilization of institutional investment for nature-based mitigation projects. “Indonesia has entered a new era—transforming from merely the owner of the world’s largest tropical forests into a hub for high-integrity carbon markets,” he affirmed.
Meanwhile, Minister of Environment Hanif Faisol Nurofiq, in remarks delivered by Ary Sudijanto, emphasized that financing remains the most critical challenge in advancing climate action. Limited domestic fiscal capacity and the still-suboptimal support from developed countries require Indonesia to expand bilateral cooperation and accelerate the implementation of Article 6 of the Paris Agreement, including collaboration with the Government of Norway.
Indonesia’s climate financing needs have risen significantly from the initial estimate of USD 247 billion (2018–2030) to USD 472 billion for the 2030–2035 period, as reflected in the Second NDC. Hanif also emphasized that strengthening Indonesia’s carbon market cannot be achieved in isolation. The government is broadening alignment with international standards through Mutual Recognition Agreements (MRAs) with various institutions, including Gold Standard, Plan Vivo, the Global Carbon Council, Verra, as well as a Letter of Intent with Puro.earth.
Through these collaborations, carbon projects can comply with national regulations while adopting global integrity standards, enabling wider international recognition of the resulting credits.
APHI Chairperson Soewarso stressed that the enhanced legal certainty provided by Presidential Regulation 110/2025 sends a positive signal to the forestry business sector. According to him, forest-based carbon markets can only grow if regulations, governance, and MRV standards operate consistently from upstream to downstream. “APHI welcomes the regulatory improvements initiated by the government, as they provide clarity of calculation, transparency of carbon units, and certainty for business actors in developing Nature-based Solutions projects,” he said.
Furthermore, Soewarso stated that APHI is committed to ensuring that the carbon market not only drives climate mitigation but also delivers direct benefits to communities and regional economies. “With its large carbon stock potential, the forestry sector is the backbone of Indonesia’s contribution to the global carbon market. We invite investors, international institutions, and government partners to strengthen collaboration to deliver high-integrity, inclusive carbon projects capable of creating new economic value for Indonesia,” he added. (*)
