Govt Allocates 1.4M Ha Carbon Land for Customary Groups

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - To meet global carbon market demands that require positive social impacts, the government has set aside 1.4 million hectares of carbon land specifically for indigenous communities. Under this scheme, customary-law communities are projected not only to steward forest ecosystems but also to become primary beneficiaries of revenue from international carbon credit sales.

“International investors now require demonstrable positive social impacts for communities near carbon projects. The President’s policy also stresses that carbon trading must deliver direct benefits to forest communities. For that reason the government has reserved about 1.4 million hectares for indigenous peoples,” said the President’s Special Envoy for Energy and Climate, Hashim Djojohadikusumo, in Jakarta on Monday, 6 July 2026.

He added that Indonesia already operates a social forestry program covering roughly 8.3 million hectares. By expanding carbon-trading schemes to include social forestry, communities can gain dual benefits, which are income from agroforestry and forest products, plus additional revenue from selling carbon credits.

Hashim also said the administration of President Prabowo Subianto is strongly committed to protecting forest ecosystems, including plans to increase the number of forest rangers from about 5,000 to 70,000 personnel.

“In the first year we plan to recruit around 23,000 personnel as part of a three-year target. This forest ranger expansion has received praise from The Royal Foundation led by the Prince of Wales, given that in many African countries conservation officers face serious threats from wildlife trade criminal networks, sometimes becoming victims of shootings,” said Hashim, as quoted by Antara.

He added that boosting Indonesia’s conservation personnel is therefore seen as an important step that will draw global attention.

Hashim also announced that on 9 July 2026 the government will launch the Carbon Unit Registration System (SRUK). The system responds to growing investor interest in carbon investments in Indonesia, while addressing long-standing obstacles that have frustrated the development of Indonesia’s carbon market and hindered international investor participation.

“On Thursday (9 July 2026) we will launch SRUK. This system has long been awaited by the international community. After attending various international forums in London, New York, and Brazil (COP30), the government is starting to show concrete progress,” he said.

He further noted that the President has signed Presidential Regulation No. 110/ 2025 on the Implementation of the Carbon Economic Value Instrument (NEK) and National Greenhouse Gas Emission Control. Hashim said that this regulation demonstrates the government’s strong commitment to better carbon governance that favors community interests.

“The international community is beginning to believe that Indonesia can implement the program, not merely promise it,” he added. ***