Agus Justianto
A Member of the Expert Advisory Council of OMO IFNS 2030 and concurrently the Project Director of Phase One of FOLU Norway’s Contribution (FOLU NC-1).
Climate debates often focus on numbers—how much emissions must be cut and by when net zero should be reached. For the forestry sector, however, a more fundamental question is frequently overlooked: how can climate targets be achieved without sacrificing forest productivity, community livelihoods, and ecosystem sustainability? This is where Sustainable Forest Management (SFM) becomes central. It is not a peripheral concept, but the backbone of Indonesia’s commitment to achieve FOLU Net Sink 2030, under which the forestry and land-use sector is expected to absorb 140 million tons of CO₂ equivalent by 2030. This ambition cannot be realized through conservation alone. Protection is necessary, but insufficient. The real test lies in how Indonesia manages its forests—including production forests—so they remain standing, productive, and resilient over the long term.
From concept to practice
SFM is not new to Indonesia’s forestry governance. The balance between ecological, economic, and social functions has long been embedded in national forest policy. What has changed is its strategic relevance. Under the FOLU Net Sink 2030 framework, SFM is no longer only about sustaining forest resources; it is also about delivering measurable climate mitigation outcomes. Well-managed production forests continue to absorb carbon while supporting economic activity. Practices such as Reduced Impact Logging (RIL), intensive silviculture, stand enrichment, and extended harvesting cycles have proven effective in limiting degradation and increasing long-term carbon stocks. When applied consistently, production forests shift from being perceived as emission sources to becoming nature-based climate solutions.
Rethinking the role of production forests
In public discourse, production forests are often framed as drivers of environmental pressure. Yet within Indonesia’s FOLU Net Sink 2030 architecture, they play a strategic role. Covering tens of millions of hectares, production forests—if managed sustainably—can act as a critical buffer against wider deforestation and land degradation. Strong governance is key. Clear licensing systems, legal certainty, and strict compliance with approved forest management plans create the conditions for responsible forest management. When forest operators have predictable rules and credible incentives, pressure on forests outside concession areas can be reduced. In this sense, SFM functions as a landscape stabilization tool, ensuring that productive use does not translate into forest loss.
Linking management with carbon gains
SFM under FOLU Net Sink 2030 does not stand alone. It is closely linked with efforts to enhance carbon stocks through forest and land rehabilitation, peatland restoration, and agroforestry development. At the field level, this integration takes shape through the rehabilitation of open areas, enrichment with high-value ecological species, and the sustainable use of non-timber forest products. The benefits are twofold. Carbon sequestration increases, while income sources diversify. For communities living in and around forest areas, SFM opens pathways for participation through forestry partnerships, social forestry schemes, and multi-business forestry models that are more adaptive to climate and market changes. Ecological sustainability, in this context, goes hand in hand with social and economic resilience.
Economic incentives and carbon value
As carbon markets and performance-based climate finance evolve, SFM becomes increasingly strategic. Forest management practices that demonstrably maintain or enhance carbon stocks can qualify for performance-based incentives. This signals an important shift—from forestry that relies solely on timber production to forestry that also generates value from ecosystem services. For forest enterprises, this creates new opportunities. Investments in SFM—often seen in the past as additional costs—can now be reframed as long-term investments with ecological and economic returns. To ensure credibility, however, these incentives must be supported by robust, transparent, and accessible monitoring, reporting, and verification (MRV) systems.
Challenges on the ground
Despite a solid policy framework, implementing SFM consistently remains a challenge. Gaps in technical capacity, limited access to financing, and uneven oversight persist. Not all forest management units are equally equipped to apply best practices. Social issues also matter. Tenure conflicts, unequal access, and limited community capacity can undermine sustainability if left unresolved. Addressing these challenges requires institutional strengthening, capacity building, and genuine multi-stakeholder partnerships—supported by consistent and fair law enforcement.
Looking ahead to 2030
Ultimately, Indonesia’s FOLU Net Sink 2030 is more than an emissions target. It represents a shift in how forests are valued and managed. Sustainable Forest Management is the bridge between climate ambition and on-the-ground reality. If applied consistently and supported by adaptive policies, Indonesia’s forests will not only endure but thrive as a strategic national asset. Managing forests sustainably means safeguarding the future—not only for the forestry sector, but for the climate and for Indonesia’s credibility on the global stage (*).
