Enviro News Asia, Jakarta — Indonesia’s Ministry of Forestry and Yayasan Konservasi Alam Nusantara (YKAN) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) aimed at strengthening sustainable forest management through science-based approaches and multi-stakeholder collaboration. The partnership is expected to support the transformation of the forestry sector and contribute to the achievement of national climate targets, including Indonesia’s FOLU Net Sink 2030 agenda.
Secretary-General of the Ministry of Forestry, Mahfudz, said the forestry sector is facing increasingly complex challenges in balancing ecological protection with economic development derived from the sustainable use of forest resources. He emphasized that such challenges require integrated and well-designed policy approaches.
“The complexity of today’s forestry issues requires the support of various stakeholders, including government institutions, the private sector, academia, and civil society organizations,” Mahfudz said.
He added that collaboration with development partners such as YKAN would provide opportunities to leverage the organization’s networks, experience, and best practices from different regions and communities to strengthen Indonesia’s future forestry development agenda.
The MoU builds upon previous cooperation between YKAN and the Directorate General of Natural Resources and Ecosystem Conservation (KSDAE) during the 2021–2026 period, which focused on strengthening conservation areas and biodiversity protection.
Under the new agreement, both parties will cooperate on developing and strengthening policies related to life-support systems and preservation areas, including the provision of scientific data, information, and studies to support evidence-based decision-making. The partnership will also enhance biodiversity conservation efforts in both protected and production forests, particularly in priority areas.
The agreement includes the application of spatial planning approaches such as Development by Design, which utilizes scientific data to improve planning in production forests and support the formulation and evaluation of regional spatial plans (RTRW). This approach is intended to prioritize the protection of environmentally sensitive forest areas vulnerable to human activities and environmental changes.
In addition, the partnership will pilot landscape-based Multi-Business Forestry schemes in production forests, particularly through the Bentala Kalimantan initiative in East Kalimantan. The initiative seeks to strengthen sustainable and low-emission forest governance while developing competitive incentive mechanisms for ecosystem services.
The cooperation also covers forest and land fire prevention and control through risk-based approaches, including vulnerability mapping, strengthening support systems, and improving community capacities at the local level.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, YKAN Executive Director Herlina Hartanto reaffirmed the organization’s commitment to supporting the government in advancing sustainable forestry management.
“We believe that the growing challenges of forest management can only be addressed through science-based, data-driven, and multi-stakeholder collaboration. Such partnerships are essential to ensuring that forests remain sustainable, provide tangible benefits to local and Indigenous communities, and contribute to achieving the Ministry of Forestry’s strategic objectives and Indonesia’s climate goals,” Herlina said.
Yayasan Konservasi Alam Nusantara (YKAN), established in Indonesia in 2014, is a science-based non-profit organization dedicated to advancing conservation and sustainable development. (*)
