Indonesia and FSC Partner for Sustainable Forest Governance

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - The Indonesian Forestry Ministry and the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) have officially strengthened their collaboration on sustainable forest management. The agreement marks a strategic step toward reinforcing Indonesia’s sustainable forest governance.

Director General of Sustainable Forest Management (PHL) at the Forestry Ministry, Laksmi Wijayanti, said the collaboration not only strengthens responsible forest management but also ensures that international standards align with Indonesia’s national systems, regulations, and priorities.

“The signing of the MoU today marks a step forward in respecting Indonesia’s own systems and priorities. This is our collaboration to strengthen responsible forest management in Indonesia,” Laksmi said in Jakarta on Tuesday, June 30, 2026.

She explained that the partnership aims to improve forest governance so that benefits can be felt by indigenous peoples, local communities, workers, businesses, and the wider public who depend on forest ecosystem services.

At the same time, the management prioritizes efforts to preserve Indonesia’s approximately 91 million hectares of forest areas, which constitute the nation’s natural capital.

Laksmi also emphasized Indonesia’s strategic global position, noting that the country is one of the three nations with the largest tropical rainforests in the world.

Through this collaboration, the government hopes that synergy between international standards and national policies will strengthen conservation efforts and support sustainable forest management for future generations.

Founded in 1993, the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) sets global standards for sustainable forest management, ensuring that wood and paper products come from responsible sources.

FSC International Director General Subhra Bhattacharjee praised the Indonesian government’s commitment to forest preservation. She said the policy provides an important foundation for building ecosystem resilience while improving the welfare of communities living in forest areas.

Forest sustainability, she added, is inseparable from the well-being of communities dependent on forest resources. “Resilient forests can only be realized if the communities that depend on them are also resilient, thriving, and prosperous,” Subhra said.

She expressed appreciation to the Forestry Ministry for implementing the social forestry program, which provides local communities with access to and benefits from forest management.

According to her, preserving forests is a major challenge faced by almost every country. It requires long-term commitment and the courage to make decisions that are not always easy, for the sake of natural resource sustainability. (Misni Parjiati)